Letlhogonolo Molefi, 39, a former ward councillor of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality in North West, appeared before the Klerksdorp magistrates’ court on Wednesday to answer to allegations of creating a disturbance at the construction site, extortion, and intimidation.
According to reports, Molefe was apprehended during an undercover operation on Tuesday. He was arrested by the Klerksdorp Tactical Response Team (TRT) and the Provincial Organised Crime and Crime Intelligence.
Information about community members intimidating workers on a site was reportedly provided to Provincial Organised Crime on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
Demanded protection fee, jobs from contractor
A contractor installing fibre on the N12 road between Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom and Wolmaransstad filed complaints. He reported community members who were intimidating them at work.
The contractor alleged that on Monday, July 15, 2024, they were approached on site by two men. The men claimed to be members of the Klerksdorp community. They contacted the contractor and made demands of employment.
The suspects (two men) also requested an urgent payment of R50,000 as a protection fee.
Additionally, the victim was told to leave the area and return later when they had enough cash to provide the suspects.
“The victims are said to have left the premises for five days. But the suspects never stopped calling him to demand payment.
Nabbed in a sting operation, found with cash
After an undercover operation in Klerksdorp, Molefi was apprehended. He was discovered to be in possession of the state funds,” said a statement from the police.
Molefe, a defendant in the case, was placed in police custody until Tuesday, August 27, 2024. He is set to file a formal bail application.
Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, the provincial police commissioner, commended the operation. He stated that the arrest will serve as a reminder that crime is not profitable. And that there will be no tolerance for interruptions at construction sites.
