The manager of Matlosana Municipality, formerly Klerksdorp Municipality in the North West, was released on R20,000 bail following her arrest on Sunday.
Lesego Seametso was arrested along with her sister Lebo, who is also an employee of the same municipality. She is stationed at the traffic department.
The pair, who handed themselves over to the police, was formally charged with theft, corruption, fraud and money laundering at the Klerksdorp police station.
According to sources close to the case, Lesego was escorted by her boyfriend. He is a top politician at the municipality. They were accompanied by two bodyguards.
The two are accused of stealing council money by transferring funds to attorneys contracted by the municipality.
Proceeds of sale of municipal land
“Their contract came to an end early this year and they still had not transferred that money to the municipality. Lesego participated in the appointment of these lawyers in the previous term as the director corporate services,” a source alleged.
“The money in question is proceeds from the sale of municipal land in Hartebeesfontein. The land was purchased by the known Supreme Chicken poultry farm,” said the source.
The money was paid to the attorneys in 2023 and at the registration of the land and transfer. Lesego allegedly instructed the lawyers not to pay it in to the municipal bank account. She allegedly instructed that the money be used for the purchase a house through a family trust account. Lesego is a co-signatory of the trust account. It is alleged that she lives in the house in question, whose value is estimated at R3-million.
R3m paid into accused’s family trust account
The house was allegedly previously owned by the two directors of the said law firm. This was prior to its transfer to the Seametso family trust.
Lesego, her sister and one of the lawyers are said to be trustees of the fund.
The sisters appeared at the Klerksdorp magistrate’s court on Monday.
She was released on R20,000 bail and her sister was released on R10,000 bail. The sisters are expected back in court later in the week.
