The case of fraudulent documentation and legal appointment against former Dihlabeng Local Municipality manager, Phakiso Patrick Mokoena (40), is set to continue on 16 October. The case follows his arrest earlier this year by the Free State’s Serious Corruption Investigation team on compelling evidence.
The matter is set to be heard in the Bethlehem Magistrates’ Court. The elite crime fighting wing uncovered the rot as part of its ongoing probing regarding illegal appointments and unqualified personnel in the ANC-led Dihlabeng Local Municipality. The Hawks uncovered Mokoena’s alleged improper appointment and with false qualifications.
Col Zweli Mohobeleli, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the case against fraud-accused former municipal manager Mokoena has been postponed to aforementioned date for trial and possible plea.
He said probing discovered that Mokoena was appointed on a three-month contract as municipal manager, despite being unqualified. Mohobeleli said the accused is alleged to have been appointed without proper recruitment procedures being followed.
“It was also discovered that, upon employment, Mokoena had provided a fraudulent matric certificate. The Hawks’ investigators presented a compelling case before the prosecution which resulted in a warrant for his arrest being issued by the court,” said Mohobeleli. He said the in-depth probing uncovered that Mokoena was employed by the municipality between February 2022 and April 2022, earning R53 000 per month.
Mokoena is currently out on bail of R10 000 with condition.
