Former Municipal Manager of the Thabazimbi Local Municipality, Morutse Edward Ntsoane.
Former Municipal Manager of the Thabazimbi Local Municipality, Morutse Edward Ntsoane (50) appeared in the Thabazimbi Magistrates Court facing charges of contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act on Monday.
The matter was postponed to Friday, 27 September 2024, for formal bail application.
Ntsoane was arrested by the Polokwane based Hawks Serious Commercial Crimes Investigation at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday, 20 September 2024.
In September 2013, the accused was serving as the Municipal Manager and Accounting Officer at the Thabazimbi Local Municipality. He allegedly facilitated a contract between municipality and the service provider for the procurement of goods and services.
This was done without following the required legislative tender procedures and in violation of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
Despite his obligation as an accounting officer, according to the allegation, the accused also failed to take reasonable steps to prevent irregular expenditure.
As a result, the municipality suffered a loss of over R3,8 million.
In another incident, it is alleged that during 2012, the same service provider engaged by the Waterberg District Municipality to conduct placement and benchmarking services.
They responded to an advertised tender and submitted the necessary documents. While working at Waterberg, the director of such company received a call from a Waterberg official offering a similar service (placement and benchmarking) at Thabazimbi Local Municipality.
Unlike the Waterberg contract, the Thabazimbi tender was not advertised in the newspaper, and the service provider who was awarded the tender allegedly did not submit any tender documents.
During that time, Mr Ntsoane was serving as the Municipal Manager and Accounting Officer the municipality when the contract, valued at R2,056.00, was allegedly established between the municipality and the service provider. As a result, this caused a public outcry.
Following a complaint from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). The case was registered and transferred to the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further investigation.
The investigation was completed, and a warrant of arrest was authorized. The accused was traced and arrested by the Hawks.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Limpopo Province Major General (Adv) Gopz Govender applauded the excellent working relationship between the SIU and the Hawks.