NORTHERN CAPE – A 48 year old former Municipal Manager at Phokwane Local Municipality is expected to appear before Hartswater Regional court on Thursday, 11 November 2021, facing allegations of fraud and contravention of Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003.
It is alleged that during 2018, the suspect authorised car and travel allowance to thirteen (13) employees without following prescribed procedures. Each employee received R10 000.00 for car and travel allowance which was back dated to July 2017. The Municipality suffered an actual prejudice exceeding R2 million.
Nomthandazo Mnisi, spokesperson for the Hawks, says it is further alleged that during August 2018, the suspect submitted a memo to payroll accountant to implement the total remuneration package of R1 169 406.00 plus 4% rural allowance retrospective from July 2017.
Thorough investigation by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team revealed that neither the council or the MEC of Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGSTA) in the Northern Cape authorised/approved any of these transactions.
The summon to appear in court against the suspect on fraud and contravention of Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003 charges was served on her in Vryburg on Friday, 15 October 2021.
