MPUMALANGA :Linda Bhekiyise Goqo(57), Emalahleni ex-Local Municipality Councillor , Xolani Manana(32) and Sharon Mtshali(36) were released on bail by the Witbank Magistrate court on Friday , 03 June 2022 after they were arrested by the Hawks Middelburg based Serious Corruption Investigation the same day for fraud, theft and corruption.

Their arrest followed an investigation by the Hawks which started in July 2020 whereby complainants reported to the police that they paid money to buy RDP houses which were never allocated to them.

During the investigation, it was established that the Emalahleni Local Municipality Councillor Goqo received the money for his own benefit. It was further established that he was working together with Xolani Manana who was sent by the Councillor to collect monies that he charged people for the RDP houses. The councillor did not want electronic transactions, he preferred cash only hence Xolani was tasked to collect the monies.

During the interview Manana made a confession on six incidences whereby he received the money from the victims and gave it to the councillor which was cash only. Accused number three Mtshali was also linked after her account number was used to receive the money from one of the victims which she withdrew then handed to the councillor and total money stolen was R307 000.00.

During their first court appearance in Witbank Magistrate Court on Friday, they were released on R2000 bail each and warned to return to court on 26 July 2022 for further investigation.

Source: South African Police Service