Another CFO and co-accused appear in Court for fraud amounting to R2.9 million

NORTH WEST – Mercy Maebe Phetla (38), Chief Financial Officer at the City of Matlosana Municipality and Mmatebesi Josephine Sekhejane (42), an acting Store Controller at the same municipality and Tiisetso Sebetlele (33), the director of Variegated Pty (Ltd) company, appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court today, 19 August 2024, facing charges of fraud.

The trio was arrested this morning by members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation Unit, following an investigation into allegations of procurement irregularities. It is alleged that in January 2024, the municipality paid a service provider an amount of R2.9 million for electrical materials, which were never delivered.

The accused have appeared in court on a charge of fraud and were granted bail. Phetla was granted R35 000, Sekhejane R5 000 and Sebetlele was granted R20 000. The Court has ordered that the accused report at their nearest police stations once a week and that they must not be in contact with the State’s witnesses. Their case was postponed to 12 November 2024 for further investigation.

The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Patrick Mbotho and the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari have welcomed the arrest and subsequent court appearance of the accused. They have vowed that the Hawks and NPA will continue working together to fight malfeasance in public institutions.