The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, arrested a former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality in Christiana, North West for R167,000 fraud.
The 45-year-old man was arrested on Monday for alleged fraud and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
Provincial Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula, said the accused was arrested in Heidelberg following allegations of fraud and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act in the procurement of motor vehicle rental service for the mayor.
“Reports indicate that from April to May 2022, the suspect procured motor vehicle rental service for the mayor without following proper supply chain processes.
“Investigation revealed that the suspect procured these services without the approval of the municipal manager. As a result, the municipality suffered a loss of over R167,000,” said Mathebula.
Mathebula said the suspect is due to appear in the Christiana Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
Last week on Friday, IOL reported that the Pretoria North Regional granted the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) a confiscation order against a 67-year-old businesswoman who was convicted of theft and fraud after she defrauded the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa).
Sarathamoney Devi Sigamoney was also found guilty of perjury after she benefited from Sassa while being a director of a company that was awarded tenders from the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, said the tender, which was worth R88 million, was to supply office furniture between 2017 and 2022.
In 2017, Sigamoney applied for an old age grant with Sassa.
“She attached a supporting affidavit wherein she stated that she has never worked for a period of 20 years,” said Mamothame.
On 18 April, 2017, Sassa provided Sigamoney with a letter of approval, which she signed for as received.
“She is alleged to have received grant money from Sassa amounting to approximately R123,000 from July 2017 to July 2022.”
The IDAC said subsequent to charges being registered against her, Sigamoney continued to receive the grant for a further 16 months.
Meanwhile, the order stipulates that an amount of R138,593 together with interest at a prescribed rate of 11.25% per annum, calculated from the date of this order to the date of payment, be paid back to SASSA.
Sigamoney was also ordered to provide proof of payment to the state.
Following her conviction, she will be sentenced on January 14, 2025.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.com
IOL News