The Hawks have arrested former municipal manager of Elias Motsoaledi municipality Minah Maredi on fraud and corruption charges.
Arrest and bail
Maredi was charged with fraud and corruption relating to an alleged irregular appointment of an auditing firm.
She allegedly failed to prevent irregular expenditure at the municipality. Maredi allegedly appointed a consulting company without complying with the Municipal Finance Management Act. The company was appointed to render auditing services in the municipality.
She appeared before Groblersdal magistrate’s court today, December 20, and was granted a bail of R20 000. Her case was postponed to February 1 2024.
Limpopo provincial head of the Hawks, Major General Gopz Govender, confirmed the arrest. He said Maredi was arrested by Polokwane-based Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation for alleged fraud and corruption charges.
Fraud and corruption
Govender said: “In May 2017, Maredi allegedly failed to prevent irregular expenditure at the municipality by appointing a consulting company to render auditing services in the municipality without complying with the Municipal Finance Management Act. As a result, the municipality suffered a loss of more than R686 000.
“The matter was reported to the Hawks for investigations. The allegations were thoroughly investigated by the Hawks, and subsequent to that the warrant to arrest the suspect was applied and authorised by court,” said Govender.
She was traced and arrested at Ramogwerane village outside Groblersdal.
Links to VBS case
Last year Maredi was arrested in connection with the ongoing defunct Venda Burial Society (VBS). She was charged in the Pretoria specialised commercial crimes court with contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act. The former municipal manager was granted R40 000 bail.
Govender warned officials that if they are going to involve themselves in fraud and corruption activities, the Hawks will be after them.
By Thomo Nkgadima
