MPUMALANGA – The former municipal manager, Theron Zwelishe Shongwe (47); former municipal manager, Thusi Hezekiel Kubheka (65; and former community service manager, Masego Mmabatho Matsheka (51) appeared before the Ermelo Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 29 August 2022 after their arrest by the Nelspruit based Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team for fraud, theft and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

It is alleged that between 2014 and 2018, the former municipality officials contravened the PFMA by selling and exchanging the property belonging to the municipality which included the reservoir and the water pump which are meant to serve the basic needs of the community. They also exchanged the municipality properties with higher value to the property of lower value to benefit the private person without considering the essential benefits towards the community.

The matter was reported to the Hawks in March 2020 for further probe. During the investigation, it was established that the correct procurement processes were not followed and that the properties which were sold belonged to the municipality for the benefit of the community.

The trio were granted R5000-00 bail each and the case was postponed to 06 October 2022 for further investigation. More arrests are imminent.

Source: South African Police Service