Joburg - A former municipal manager of Nkomazi Local Municipality in Malelane, Mpumalanga, Muzi Daniel Ngwenya is currently out on R10 000 bail after being arrested for alleged fraud and corruption.
The case was postponed by the Tonga Magistrates’ Court to January 25 for further investigation.
Ngwenya, 55, was arrested by the Nelspruit-based Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for fraud, theft and contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act on Friday.
Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi said the arrest followed an investigation carried out by the Hawks where it was established that during December 2021, the suspect bought a pre-owned Mercedes Benz from a vehicle dealership in Bedfordview, Joburg using municipality funds.
“Ngwenya reportedly registered the vehicle in his name, prejudicing the municipality an actual loss of R900 000,” said Sekgotodi.
Ngwenya appeared before the Tonga Magistrates’ Court on Friday, and he was granted R10 000 bail.
Ngwenya is one of many officials arrested recently in Mpumalanga.
In August, two former Mpumalanga municipal managers were released on R5000 bail by the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court after they were arrested for contravening the Public Financial Management Act.
Theron Zwelishe Shongwe, 47, and Thusi Hazelkiel Kubheka, 65, who were employed by the Msukalingwa Municipality, were arrested by the Hawks alongside the municipality’s former community service manager, Masego Mmabatho Matsheka, 51.
It is alleged that between 2014 and 2018, the former municipality officials contravened the PFMA by selling and exchanging the property belonging to the municipality, which included the reservoir and water pump, which were meant to serve the basic needs of the community.
“They also exchanged municipality properties with higher value with property of lower value to benefit the private person without considering the essential benefits towards the community,” Sekgotodi said.