FORMER TSWELOPELE LOCAL MUNICIPAL ACCOUNTNG OFFICER, SERVICE PROVIDER AND HIS COMPANY ARRESTED FOR FRAUD

Photo: Hawks making an arrest

Supplied

By: Neo Ntsele

Today (Wed) 28, the former Accounting Officer at Tswelopele Local Municipality in Bultfontein, Matiro Rebecca Mogopodi 57, service provider Letlhogonolo Godfrey Mokgeledi 42, and his company Upsurge Construction and Projects (Pty) Ltd, made a brief appearance before the Bultfontein Magistrate Court on charges of fraud, contravention of Finance Management Act and contravention of Debt Collectors Act.

Reports indicate that, during August 2019, the former Accounting Office Mogopodi, appointed a service provider to render debt collection services for the municipality without following proper municipality supply chain procedures.

As a result, a payment of about R530 190.80 was transferred to the service provider’s bank account.

The matter came to the attention of the councillors after receiving a report from the Auditor General South Africa (AGSA) which revealed that the municipality made an irregular and wasteful expenditure on the appointment and payment of the service provider.

The report further alleged that the service provider submitted fraudulent documents and invoices, and he never rendered the services he was paid for.

As a result, the municipality was prejudiced and suffered a loss of about R530190.80

A case was registered then referred to the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Welkom for further investigation.

The duo together with the company were charged with fraud, contravention of the Finance Management Act and contravention of the Debt Collectors Act.

They were each released on R10 000 bail, and the matter was postponed to 27 August 2025 to the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit Court in Welkom.