Central SA
North West former municipal manager arrested twice for alleged looting─── LUCKY NKUYANE 11:46 Mon, 02 Oct 2023
The legally embattled and former North West municipal official, who was arrested for spending millions of taxpayers’ money on laptops and food parcels, still has a legal matter hanging over his head.
OFM News previously reported in 2022 that Patrick Shikwane (51), who is the former Municipal Manager for the Bojanala District Municipality, which includes Rustenburg, was also arrested for wrongdoing linked to a R2.4 million tender.
At the time, Shikwane was arrested for irregularly awarding a tender to a service provider who allegedly did not even do the work.
However, months later the suspect has again found himself in trouble with the law. The Hawks' national spokesperson, Tinyiko Mathebula, said he was recently arrested by the Hawks in Hartbeespoort, alongside his accomplice Moses Malesa (51), who is the Director of Marole Nameng Trading. They appeared in the Rustenburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday (27/9) and were slapped with fraud charges after he authorised payment of R1 million to the company without following due processes.
Buyisile Jona from the Hawks arrested a North West Municipal Manager for fraud. Photo supplied
It’s understood that a forensic report also uncovered that Shikwane splashed R134 million. It’s said that he spent R2 million on two laptops, R10 million on an Events Management Company that doesn’t have an address, R359 000 on lunch and transport for councillors to attend a one-day ward committee meeting, and R299 000 for 60 food parcels.
When asked about this Mathebula said he has seen reports doing rounds but refused to confirm whether it is true or not. He said the scope of the investigation was regarding the R1 million unauthorised payment.
A North West Municipal Manager was arrested for fraud. Photo supplied
Instead, he further clarified that in December 2018, Shikwane allegedly appointed Marole Nameng Trading to supply the Bojanala District Municipality with disaster relief materials. The accused allegedly authorised payment of over R1 million to Marole Trading without following proper supply chain processes. Marole Nameng Trading, which Moses Malesa is the director of, received payment but never delivered the procured materials.
“Following an investigation, the accused were arrested by members of the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation Unit. Shikwane was arrested on Tuesday (26/9) in Hartbeespoort, while Malesa handed himself over the next day,” he said.
Shikwane and his accomplices briefly appeared in court and were granted bail of R10 000 and R5 000. Their case is postponed to 16 October for further investigations.
