BETHLEHEM: Five individuals, two being former officials at the Free State’s Dihlabeng Local Municipality, reappeared in the Bethlehem Magistrates’ Court on 14 and 19 August. Their appearances regard alleged corruption and “ghost workers” fraud at the municipality.
It followed their arrest by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team which conducted investigation after irregularities were reported.
The pair of Reitumetse Moeng and Moeketsi Calvin Motloung reappeared in court on Thursday, 14 August. Their bail had been set at R5 000 each on their first appearance, which was on 14 July. They are the latest arrested pertaining reported ghost workers fraud.
Those who are appeared in court on yesterday Tuesday, 19 August, are Seipati Mavis Mabula and Nkosi Patrice Mondi, who held the positions of director of corporate services and director of local economic development (LED), respectively. Also, Rerang Nchabane, a civilian, was fingered as a ghost worker. Currently out on bail of R5 000 each, the trio have been appearing in court since March 2023. They face charges of fraud, theft and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
According to the Hawks, they were allegedly engaged in the ghost worker fraud between January 2020 and December 2021. The investigation revealed Nchabane as a ghost employee, who earned R12 000 a month as a contracted worker without ever reporting for duty.
The municipality reportedly suffered losses exceeding R290 000.
Lt Col. Zweli Mohobeleli, spokesperson for the provincial Hawks, said evidence gathered revealed the alleged scheme had been ongoing for several years, and it represented a textbook case of what authorities call “bogus employee” fraud.
