{"id":300760,"date":"2023-10-02T08:13:32","date_gmt":"2023-10-02T06:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/nketoane-municipality-crooks-get-hefty-sentences-20231002\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T15:51:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T13:51:31","slug":"nketoane-municipality-crooks-get-hefty-sentences-20231002","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/nketoane-municipality-crooks-get-hefty-sentences-20231002\/","title":{"rendered":"Nketoane municipality crooks get hefty sentences"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The corruption case at the Free State\u2019s Nketoane Local Municipality has seen two companies and four individuals, including a former top official, slapped with hefty sentences. Two individuals were each ordered to repay the municipality R200 000, while their companies received a suspended fine of R200 000 each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bethlehem Regional Court sentenced the six accused on 28 September after finding them guilty of colluding to defraud the municipality through a skills development workshop and the installation of electricity meters. They were charged with corruption, fraud, and money laundering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their sentencing, based on compelling evidence presented in court, was the culmination of in-depth probing by the Hawks\u2019 Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team based in Bloemfontein. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The convicted individuals are Ntsoaki Mirriam Molapo (43), Mandla Bonifas Mamba (51), Mandla Mrwebi (58), and Vincent Mkhefa (48), who was tasked with multiple responsibilities during his tenure as an official. The two companies sentenced to a fine of R200 000 are Kabelo Laundry Services (KLS), owned by Molapo, and Mamatse Trading Close Corporation (MTCC), co-owned by Mrwebi and Mamba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WO Fikiswa Matoti, provincial spokesperson of the Hawks, said the offences were committed between March 2010 and June 2011 in the municipality in the Thabo Mofutsanyana district municipality. She said the municipality was defrauded of R2 million through improper procurement procedures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo services were rendered by the service providers,\u201d said Matoti. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matoti said Mkhefa, who held influential positions such as municipal manager, chief financial officer (CFO), and head of technical services during the period in question, illegally appointed the two companies. She said Molapo\u2019s company was appointed for a skills development workshop while Mrwebi\u2019s was for the installation of electricity meters. \u201cFraudulent delivery notes were submitted whilst electricity meters were still at the manufacturer,\u201d said Matoti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Vincent Mkhefa<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>
<\/div>\n

Ntsoaki Mirriam Molapo<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Mandla Bonifas Mamba<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

She said Mkhefa was sentenced to six years\u2019 imprisonment, suspended for five years. Matoti said the latest sentence will runs concurrently with the eight years\u2019 imprisonment imposed by the court on 7 December 2021. She said Mkhefa was already serving time in prison after being sentenced in 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said Molapo was sentenced to 12 years\u2019 imprisonment for fraud and corruption, suspended for five years each. Mrwebi and Mamba both received eight years\u2019 imprisonment for charges of fraud and corruption. Their sentences were suspended for five years each. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matoti said the court ordered both Molapo and Mrwebi to each repay the municipality R200 000 in monthly instalments. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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municipality crooks get hefty sentences | BloemNews Express<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/nketoane-municipality-crooks-get-hefty-sentences-20231002\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Nketoane municipality crooks get hefty sentences\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The corruption case at the Free State\u2019s Nketoane Local Municipality has seen two companies and four individuals, including a former top official, slapped with hefty sentences. 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