DELAREYVILLE – Advocate Lesang Cyril Lobakeng (58), former acting municipal manager of Tswaing Local Municipality in the North West province, has been hauled to court over corruption allegations. He briefly appeared in the Delareyville Magistrates’ Court yesterday, facing charges of contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act. This followed his arrest by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit after he was served with a summons.

Lieutenant-Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, confirmed Lobakeng’s arrest and his subsequent court appearance. He said the matter was postponed to 12 October in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court sitting in Vryburg. Mathebula said the accused was released on warning and ordered to reappear in court on the scheduled date.

Evidence

He said Lobakeng’s arrest was based on prima facie evidence following an intensive investigation into allegations of procuring security services without following proper processes. “Reports indicate that in 2021, the North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs appointed a security company to render security services at Tswaing Local Municipality for a period of one month. Following the expiry of a one-month contract, valued at R452 000, the security company allegedly continued to render security services without a contract. In April 2022, the Tswaing Local Municipality Council allegedly passed a resolution to pay the security company over R886 000 for security services rendered. The accused, in his capacity as the acting municipal manager, reportedly authorised payment and failed to advise Council that such payment would be unlawful and irregular,” said Mathebula.

Lobakeng’s initial positions included acting corporate services director and chief legal advisor following his appointment by the same municipality is governed by the ANC. He held these positions, in various combinations, for a five-year period from 2021 to 2025. Lobakeng’s arrest also came after the DA in North West formally recommended his suspension pending the outcome of the investigations into corruption allegations. The municipality is made up of three towns: Delareyville, Sannieshof and Ottosdal.