The former Hantam Municipality manager, who is currently the municipal manager at Nama Khoi Municipality, Jan Izaks Swarts, was released on bail following his arrest by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Springbok on March 27.
THE FORMER Hantam Municipality manager, who is currently the municipal manager at Nama Khoi Municipality, Jan Izaks Swarts, was released on bail following his arrest by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Springbok on March 27.
Swarts made a brief appearance in the Calvinia Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday where he was charged with fraud and contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003.
Hawks provincial spokesperson Nomthandazo Mnisi said the alleged offences were committed between 2019 and 2020 while the accused was serving as the municipal manager at Hantam Municipality.
“He received a monthly subsidy for two official cellphones, whereas the municipality was also paying for the billing to the service provider, which was contrary to the package he had with the municipality. Due to this, the municipality suffered an actual prejudice of R33,470.39,” said Mnisi.
She added that in an unrelated matter, Swarts allegedly ordered that two loads of gravel belonging to the municipality be delivered to his residence for his personal use.
“The municipality suffered an actual prejudice amounting to R1,003.”
Mnisi said that Swarts was released on bail of R5,000.
“The case was postponed until May 13 and will be transferred to the Commercial Crimes Court.”
