BETHLEHEM – An investigation by the Free State’s Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team involving a “ghost workers scheme” at the Dihlabeng Local Municipality has culminated in the sentencing of one accused person, while three others are due in court. The Bethlehem Magistrates Court has sentenced one accused Reitumetse Moeng (28) to three years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended on the condition that she repay the municipality amount of R84 598.22. The suspension includes the condition that she is not convicted of the same crime during that period. She was sentenced on Thursday 22 January.
The remaining trio are set to reappear in court from 4 till 6 February. They include two former officials, Seipati Mavis Mabula, Nkosi Patrice Mondi, and Rerang Nchabane, a civilian. Mabula and Mondi held the positions of director of corporate services and director of local economic development (LED), respectively. The accused face charges of fraud, theft and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
The Bethlehem’s Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team arrested the trio in March 2023, and they were released on R5 000 bail each. Five individuals were arrested.
WO Fikiswa Matoti, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the discovery of the ghost workers fraud scheme was made in 2021 at municipality. The ANC-led municipality runs the towns of Bethlehem, Clarens, Fouriesburg and Paul Roux.
The court found Moeng guilty of fraudulently receiving a monthly salary of R9 399,80 over nine months (totalling R84 598,22), despite never working for the municipality. “A thorough investigation revealed that Moeng was one of the individuals fraudulently receiving a monthly salary from the municipality between May 2021 and January 2022,” said Matoti.
The investigations into the scam led to her arrest on 14 July last year, and she was subsequently released on bail set at R5 000.
Matoti confirmed that charges have been provisionally withdrawn against one accused Moeketsi Calvin Motloung (civilian).
The investigations found that civilians, including the convicted Moeng, received significant amounts of money through the “ghost workers employment scam,” despite not working for the municipality.
Nchabane, allegedly received a monthly salary of approximately R12 083,33 as a contracted worker between January 2020 and December 2021 without ever reporting for duty. Mondi allegedly instructed a subordinate to create a fraudulent attendance register for Nchabane. Thereafter, Mabula allegedly signed Nchabane’s contract and was present when the creation of the fraudulent attendance register was ordered. It emerged that Mabula was serving as the acting municipal manager at the time she facilitated the process.
The scheme reportedly resulted in a total loss of more than R290 000 for the municipality between January 2020 and December 2021. Neither Mabula nor Mondi is currently employed by the municipality, as their contracts lapsed prior to their arrests.
Meanwhile, a directive from the National Treasury mandates all departments and municipalities countrywide, to conduct a full physical verification of every person on their payroll by 28 February. The Treasury’s binding circular issued on 8 September last year, requires this of all departments.
This move aimed at rooting out ghost workers, is expected to uncover more cases in affected provinces, which include the Free State and result in more arrests. The National Treasury and the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) launched a nationwide physical verification audit.
