Mantsopa spokesperson, Pule Lechesa, says without access to the court order, the municipality cannot comment on these developments. The incident and legal matter centres around a R 1, 5 million transaction that was intended for  ‘West Rand Consulting’ via their representative, Isaac Strauss, for services rendered in December 2020. West Rand’s services included the compilation of Mantsopa’s financial statements and an asset register report for the 2019/2020 financial year. OFM News’ Olebogeng Motse reports the money never reached the intended bank accounts, landing up elsewhere instead.

NPA spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping says a Lawrence Seleke, has been named as the financial officer who handled the now erroneous payment. On 28 December 2020, Strauss on behalf of ‘West Rand’ notified Seleke that he had not received, the R 1, 5 million payment. Investigations by Seleke revealed that his email was hacked and the bank details on West Rand’s invoice had been altered. The money was instead paid into the account of a Thulisile Mabuza, who is the director of Focus Sisters.

At the time of the preservation order, Mabuza had already spent close to R 600 000 of the money from Mantsopa. This has resulted in the AFU seizing the over R 900 000 that is left over in the account – deemed to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

No criminal charges have been instituted against anyone involved as yet.

The incident comes a week after the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs’ (Cogta’s) much awaited report into the Mantsopa Manager, Thamae Masejane, was tabled in council on Thursday (1 April). The municipality had previously asked Cogta in 2020 to assist them with the investigations into allegations levelled against Masejane. The exact outcome of the report or the allegations are yet to be revealed to OFM News.

OFM News