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A 53-year-old senior official from the local Limpopo municipality of Molemole was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Business Crime Investigation in Polokwane on Friday in connection with the theft of R4.8m.
Hawks spokesman Capt.Matimba Maluleke said the Hawks had received a tip in 2018 about the theft of money from the Makgatho Community Properties Association by some of the committee members.
“The investigation revealed that between 2015 and 2018, the suspect was advising a community association and allegedly conspired with other members of the association’s committee to award an agricultural tender to a company linked to his wife without following due process.
“It was further revealed that the company never provided any service to the community despite having received more than R4.8m from the association,” Maluleke said.
The suspect will appear in Polokwane magistrates court on Monday to face theft charges, Maluleke added.
“Meanwhile, the Hawks are pursuing other suspects who are related to the case.”
The Hawks’ Acting Provincial Chief Brig Thabo Ramela welcomed the arrest and warned government officials that the Hawks would not tolerate stealing public money.
“No stone will be left unturned against those who continue to abuse their power by robbing the poorest of the poor. We will investigate without fear or favoritism and we will take those involved to the reserve, ”warned Ramela.
TimesLIVE
