The Hawks’ spokesperson in the Free State, Christopher Singo, said the three suspects, aged between 34 and 54, were arrested by the Hawks’ serious corruption investigation team in Bloemfontein and Bethlehem on Thursday.

According to Singo, the arrest of the suspects originated from an incident that took place between January 2020 and December 2021, where a ghost employee received a monthly salary of R12 000.

"During an internal audit process undertaken by the municipality, the suspect was called in to sign an attendance register for the duration of his employment at the municipality.

"It is alleged that the former director of Local Economic Development (LED), who was the supervisor of the suspect at the time, allegedly instructed his subordinate to create an attendance register for the ghost employee as if he was at all times reporting for duty. It is further alleged that the Director of Corporate Services, who was an acting municipal manager at the time, was present when her colleague, the LED director, instructed his subordinate to create an attendance register. She also signed the contract for the ghost employee. As a result of these fraudulent activities, the municipality was prejudiced and suffered a total loss of more than R290 000," he stated.

The matter was reported to the Hawks investigation team based in Bethlehem and this led to the arrest of the suspects. 

All suspects are facing charges of fraud, theft and contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, 121 of 1998, and are expected to appear before the Bethlehem Magistrate’s Court on Friday 17 March 2023.

UPDATE:

A former ghost employee, Rerang Nchabane (34), the former Director: LED, Nkosi Patrice Mondi (54), and the former Director: Corporate Services, Seipati Mavis Mabula (50), appeared before the Bethlehem Magistrate’s Court on Friday 17 March.

The case has been remanded to 17 April 2023 and they were granted R5000 bail each.

The accused:

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