Klerksdorp – The Chief Financial Officer at the City of Matlosana Municipality, stand-in Store Controller, and a company director were arrested Monday morning over electrical goods worth millions of rand that were paid for but never delivered.
The arrested trio – Chief CFO 38-year-old Mercy Maebe Phetla, 42-year-old acting Store Controller Mmatebesi Josephine Sekhejane, and 33-year-old Tiisetso Sebetlele), the director of Variegated Pty (Ltd) company – later appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court, in the North West.
They are facing charges of fraud.
Allegations are that in January 2024, the municipality paid a service provider an amount of R2.9 million for electrical materials, which were never delivered.
However, the case was adjourned to 12 November 2024 for further investigations and the accused were granted bail of various amounts.
Phetla was granted bail of R35 000, Sekhejane R5 000, and Sebetlele R20 000.
The Court also ordered the accused to report at their nearest police stations once a week.
The trio were warned not to contact any State witnesses.
Their case was postponed to 12 November 2024 for further investigation.
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West Dr. Rachel Makhari have welcomed the arrest and subsequent court appearance of the accused.
They have vowed that the Hawks and NPA will continue working together to fight malfeasance in public institutions.
