Teboho Setena
The case of the alleged defrauding of the Moqhaka Local Municipality involving former Free State MECs and two prominent officials is set to continue in the Free State High Court in August.
It will continue with the accused being former MEC Motshidisi Agnes Koloi and Vusimuzi Rajuili, following the acquittal of Serake Jakob Leeuw, former executive mayor of the Matjhabeng Local Municipality.
The case has been probed by the Free State Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit.
WO Fikiswa Matoti, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, has confirmed the withdrawal of charges against Leeuw.
She said Koloi and Rajuili had reappeared in the Bloemfontein Regional Court on 7 April, with the matter being postponed to 25 and 26 August for plea and trial.
The case pertains to the alleged defrauding of the ANC-governed Moqhaka Municipality of R150 000, purportedly during Koloi’s tenure as the executive mayor, in 2017.
She resigned from the position of MEC for Social Development following the surfacing of allegations of corruption. Koloi’s resignation followed her indictment along with Leeuw and Rajuili, who is the chief director for the Human Settlement Programme.
The Hawks’ findings suggest they allegedly worked in cahoots to take more than R150 000 under the pretext that it would be used for a sound system during a Nelson Mandela memorial lecture. The event however reportedly never took place, despite money being paid.
The accused face charges of fraud, money laundering and contravention of the Municipal Management Act.
Rajuili and Koloi have since been released from police custody after each was granted bail of R10 000, with strict conditions that they must not contact state witnesses, directly or indirectly.
They must also not interfere with the investigation.
