The Head of Department of the Free State’s Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Mokete Victor Duma (46) and his co-accused, Samuel Shabalala (41) have been released on R5 000 bail each by the Kroonstad Magistrate’s Court where they appeared on Tuesday, following their arrest the same day.
The two face 127 charges, with the main one being fraud, and others relating to the contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act. Duma, who was the municipal manager of the Moqhaka Municipality in Kroonstad, and Shabalala, the service provider to the municipality when the fraud was committed, allegedly defrauded the municipality for R11 million through various misrepresentation.
Shabalala promised to build an airport in Kroonstad as well as underground tunnels but none of those happened. He misrepresented the facts when he said he has acquired international sponsors to fund all the projects he had promised, but instead Duma authorised that an amount totalling R11 million be paid to Shabalala.
The two will be appearing again in the Kroonstad Regional Court on 30 October 2015.
Enquiries:
Lieutenant Robert Netshiunda
Cell: 071 481 3507
