KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Hawks launch a manhunt following the disappearance of an employee linked to multi-million rand theft - Business man linked to the scam hand himself over to Hawks
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal in collaboration with the hawks have launched a manhunt for an employee linked to the disappearance of an amount to the tune of R7, 5million from the departmental coffers which was earmarked for Ingwe Municipality in the KZN Midlands.
It is believed that an administrative official managed to bypass an already complex biometrics procedure for settling government invoices by rerouting a R7.5-million payment to a private account. However, the department was quick to pick up the audit trail in the accounting system and identified the alleged culprit who has since vanished.
The swift reaction by the department and the Hawks has led to the arrest of a business individual allegedly linked to the theft of public funds. KZN Cogta in partnership with the Hawks continue to search for the employee in order to get more answers, they are also investigating whether the action was aided by other parties.
“We welcome the swift arrests of the alleged fraudster by the Hawks. We continue the hunt down of all those involve and we will punish them through our courts. We are following important leads. We are encircling them and there will be no room for escape. We are at their rear and their flanks” said Cogta MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
“This is the most unfortunate incident and it must prompt us in government to rethink the way we handle monetary transactions. The current system where officials mostly in administration are responsible for processing payments some worth millions to service providers warrants a review so that government minimise the risks of falling prey to scams of this nature” said Cogta MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
“While financial transactions in government are constantly being made more secure because of the amount of money in circulation between government and its service providers. Government remains an attractive target for criminals. We assure the public that we will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that those behind this gross act of fraud are brought to book,” said Cogta MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
We have also requested the Hawks to investigate whether a possibility exists of a syndicate preying on officials with access to government transactions and system procedures. This disturbing trend started in a few municipalities and it was thwarted but now seems to be migrating to the other levels of government.
“As government we frown upon any form of corruption, fraud or maladministration and we are extremely disturbed by this incident. We will take decisive actions. We commit to the public that shortly we will provide them with the answers and equivalent punishment of all those linked to this scandal”. Concluded Dube-Ncube
Enquiries:
KZN Cogta Spokespersons
Cell: 082 884 2403
Msawakhe Mayisela
Cell: 060 966 4220
