Second suspect released on R50 000 bail over money stolen from KZN Cogta
KZN Cogta employee referred in court papers as Patricia Nokwazi Chule, today appeared briefly before the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate Court in connection with the swindling of an amount to the tune R7,5 million from the department.
The employee who resigned subsequently in the wake of the scandal was released on an R50 000 bail. She is to report at the Plessislaer police station three times a week and will appear in court again on the 1st February 2016.
She has been ordered not to interfere with any of the state witnesses.
The suspect was allegedly nabbed by the Hawks at the home of the businessman who was arrested last week and also released on R50 000 bail.
The official is alleged to have bypassed a complex departmental security payment system and allegedly managed to send a payment to an account linked to the businessman instead of the Ingwe Municipality for whom it was intended.
The Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks), have been searching for the employee for more than a week.
Cogta MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube has called for more severe punishment on anyone found guilty on this scandal.
“Fraud and corruption cause a lot of damage to service delivery and the betterment of community lives, we trust the courts will in this case send the clearest message that fraud and corruption doesn’t pay. Our message of zero tolerance to potential thieves inside and outside the government is clear,” said Dube-Ncube.
For more information please contact:
KZN Cogta spokesperson
Cell: 082 884 2403
Msawakhe Mayisela
Cell: 060 966 4220
