HARTSWATER – A former municipal manager of the Phokwane Local Municipality in Hartswater, Northern Cape, has been found guilty of fraud and contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act.
Advocate Matshidiso Cordelia (53) was convicted in the Kimberley Serious Commercial Crimes Court for financial misconduct committed whilst serving as municipal manager in 2018.
During that period, Cordelia issued instructions to the municipal payroll accountant for payment of vehicle and travel allowances to 13 employees without following applicable procedures, according to Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe, spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).
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Her unlawful instructions disregarded a municipal council moratorium that was in place at the time.
Additionally, Cordelia unlawfully increased her own remuneration package and implemented a 4% rural allowance without informing the council or obtaining authorisation from the MEC of Cogsta in the Northern Cape, as required by law.
All increases were backdated to July 2017, resulting in substantial financial losses for the municipality.
The matter has been postponed until Wednesday 8 April for a pre-sentencing report and sentencing, Thebe said.
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