{"id":304712,"date":"2025-09-17T12:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T10:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/hawks-probe-into-fraud-at-the-north-west-provinces-municipality-lands-two-officials-in-court\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T16:37:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T14:37:35","slug":"hawks-probe-into-fraud-at-the-north-west-provinces-municipality-lands-two-officials-in-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/hawks-probe-into-fraud-at-the-north-west-provinces-municipality-lands-two-officials-in-court\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawks probe into fraud at the North West province\u2019s municipality lands two officials in court"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>MMABATHO.<\/strong>\u00a0Two officials, one former employee at the<a href=\"http:\/\/Ratlou Local Municipality in North West\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Ratlou Local Municipality <\/a>in Madibogo, North West province are set to reappear in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court on 21 October facing charge of fraud. Tumelo Letlojane (35), former official, and Maikano Keikantsemang Sedumedi (53) were each granted bail of R2,000 on their first appearance in the Setlagole Magistrates&#8217; Court yesterday (Tuesday 16 September).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Potchefstroom Hawks&#8217; Serious Corruption Investigation team arrested the pair on Monday, 15 September, regarding alleged fraud at the municipality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lt. Col Tinyiko Mathebula, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said that Letlojane held the position of chief financial officer while Sedumedi is still employed as the payroll clerk at the municipality. Their arrest was a result of an investigation launched in June 2023. The alleged fraud reportedly took place in 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Ratlou-Municipality1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-267805\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A member of the Potchefstroom Hawks&#8217; Serious Corruption Investigation team escorts\u00a0a female suspect into a vehicle during the arrest. Photo supplied <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Mathebula said the charge pertained to the investigation into alleged illegal appointment and authorised payment of a significant amount of money in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We received a complaint about the allegations of fraud. Reports indicate that in March 2022, the former chief financial officer (Letlojane) appointed the payroll clerk (Sedumedi) as an acting expenditure manager without the approval of the municipal manager. Thereafter in November 2022, he allegedly authorised payment of over R49 000 to the acting expenditure manager for an acting allowance. The investigation further established that the alleged acting expenditure manager did not perform any duties related to her acting position,&#8221; said Mathebula.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two officials at the North West municipality to reappear in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court regarding 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