Hawks arrest senior municipal official in Limpopo for alleged R4.8m theft

Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit in Polokwane have arrested a 53-year-old senior official from the Molemole local municipality in Limpopo.

He was arrested on Friday in connection with theft of R4.8m.

According to Hawks spokesperson Capt Matimba Maluleke, Hawks received a tip-off about money theft in 2018 from some of the committee members in the Makgatho Community Property.

“The investigation revealed that between 2015 and 2018, the suspect was mentoring a community association and allegedly connived with other committee members of the association to award a farming tender to a company linked to his wife without following due processes.”

“It was further revealed that the company never rendered any service to the community despite having received over R4.8m from the association,” Maluleke said.

Maluleke said the suspect has been charged with theft and he is expected to appear in the Polokwane magistrate’s court on Monday.

“In the meantime, the Hawks are pursuing other suspects that are linked to the case.”
Acting Hawks provincial head Brig Thabo Ramela was pleased with the arrest.

He also warned government officials that theft of public money would not be tolerated by the Hawks.

“No stone will be left unturned against those who continue to abuse their powers by stealing from the poorest of the poor. We will investigate without fear or favour and bring those who are implicated to book,” Ramela warned.

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