Two former civil servants of the Free State sphere of government, at the centre of a fake-it-till-you-make-it scenario arising from allegations of bogus qualifications, are in court to prove their cases.
Cases against the two men, Phakisa Patrick Mokoena (40) and Mmulutsi Winston Mokwai (42), are set to continue on 16 and 28 October in the respective courts of Bethlehem and Bloemfontein.
The provincial Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team pounced on them after uncovering the accused’s qualifications had been falsified. Mokoena and Mokwai were arrested in March and September, respectively.
Through their alleged bogus qualifications they held senior positions with high salaries. Mokoena was appointed as the municipal manager of the beleaguered Dihlabeng Municipality in Bethlehem on a three-month contract, from February to April 2022. Mokwai was permanently employed in 2012 as the deputy director at the Department of Health in Bloemfontein.
Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the department, confirmed Mokwai had resigned with immediate effect – apparently, upon failing to support the legitimacy of his qualifications, which include a diploma in electrical engineering and degree certificates.
“He resigned from the department pending the allegations of misconduct. The department referred the case to law enforcement agencies,” said Mvambi.
WO Fikiswa Matoti, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the investigation regarding Mokwai revealed he had also presented a fraudulent temporary driving licence when he was appointed by the department in 2012.
Col Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the probing uncovered that Mokoena, in turn, had been earning R53 000 per month – despite not having a matric certificate.
Mokoena
In the past, he was the ANC ward 4 councillor and also served as a member of the mayoral committee between 2016 and 2020 in the Dihlabeng Municipality.
Probing by the Hawks discovered that Mokoena had been appointed without proper recruitment procedures being followed, and he allegedly presented a bogus matric certificate.
The Hawks launched investigations after receiving information from some knowledgeable and trustworthy whistleblowers. The team of the elite crime fighting wing presented compelling evidence regarding the duo’s improper appointment and bogus qualifications.
Currently out on bail of R10 000, Mokoena is facing charges of fraud, theft and money laundering.
Mokwai is charged with fraud. The latter is currently out on bail set at R2 000.
