The Chief Financial Officer at the City of Matlosana Local Municipality in the North West and two service providers, were each released on a R35 000 bail by the Klerksdorp Magistrates Court.
Mercy Phetla, and two employees of GMHM Construction and Projects Matshediso Mothelesane and Nomathandazo Mokasule are facing charges of corruption and handed themselves to the Klerksdorp-based Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation on Wednesday morning before they made their court appearance.
“It is alleged that in June 2023, a service provider purchased a vehicle worth R1.4 million for the CFO of City of Matlosana.
Investigations by the Hawks Serious Corruption revealed that the service provider has a contract with the municipality,” said the Hawks provincial spokesperson, Warrant Officer Amogelang Malwetse.
Phetla allegedly failed to declare the vehicle to her employer.
The three were ordered to hand their passports to the investigating officers and all documents relating to GMHM removed from the possession of the CFO.
The matter was postponed to 1 March 2024 for further investigation.
Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance councilor Johannes Le-Grange who laid corruption charges against the CFO, told Newsnote that Phetla’s arrest is just a tip of ice bag as they have opened several cases with the Hawks.
“The CFO has been giving preferential treatment to certain service providers but not paying the patching contractors and the vehicle repair companies,” alleges Le Grange.