GEORGE NEWS - A former manager and a former chief financial officer of Eden District Municipality (now called Garden Route District Municipality) must appear in the George Regional Court on 10 November in connection with alleged fraud, corruption and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
It is alleged that between November 2010 and 31 August 2011 the duo connived and signed full-term employment contracts with both Kannaland Council and Eden DM, which enabled them to unduly receive salaries from both municipalities, resulting in a total estimated loss of over R2 million.
Senior communications officer of Garden Route DM Herman Pieters said the municipality welcomes the decision by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to formally charge those who engage in criminal and corrupt activities. "We fully support clean government and the rule of law," he said.
Wheels of justice
According to Minister of Local Government Anton Bredell, it has been nearly four years since a provincial forensic investigation into the Kannaland Municipality was undertaken. He is pleased that the National Prosecuting Authority has decided to formally charge the two former senior officials.
"The wheels of justice grind slow but fine," he said.
The initial provincial forensic investigation started in early 2017, followed by an investigation by the Hawks. This has now led to the NPA decision.
"I want to repeat my call on the national government to strengthen and better capacitate the law enforcement agencies in the Western Cape, so that these investigations can be completed much faster," said Bredell.
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