The charges relate to ghost workers that were registered on the Sol Plaatje Municipality database between 2011 and 2016
NINE suspects who were arrested for allegedly defrauding Sol Plaatje Municipality of R1.6 million are expected to apply for bail in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court today.
The Hawks arrested the accused in Kuruman and Kimberley earlier this week on charges of fraud and money laundering.
The accused – Mmpoletseng Beauty Kilelo, 40, Paul Mission Mokoena, 50, Oratile Yvonne Schoeman, 32, Togara Charles Ndebele, 51, Tjetjepa Motaung, 46, Jacqueline Tshilo, 44, Mandy Kelebogile Ntshoe, 36, Laban Ntshoe 37 and Eveline Makaloi, 60 – made their first court appearance yesterday.
Hawks Northern Cape provincial spokesperson Nomthandazo Mnisi said that three of the accused – Ntshoe, Ntshoedi and Makaloi – were arrested yesterday, while the other six accused were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“It is alleged that ghost workers were registered on the Sol Plaatje Municipality database between 2011 and 2016. Various bank accounts were used to deposit money from Sol Plaatje’s bank account amounting to approximately R1.6 million,” said Mnisi.
She added that the accused were former employees of the municipality, where some had been dismissed.
Mnisi indicated that the case was postponed until today.
“All accused will remain in custody.”
