Kathorus-based private investigator Thabo Buzwa has expressed excitement at the new developments regarding his 10-year probe into the missing millions owed to retrenched former municipal workers employed by the old Boksburg Municipality.
Buzwa claims the money was part of the workers’ contributions to the municipality’s pension fund.
Buzwa even opened a case at the Katlehong North SAPS in a bid to get them to investigate those he has over the years link to the disappearance of the estimated R46-million.
According to him, when employees were retrenched by the municipality in 1993, a total of 366 of those workers were never paid their pension fund.
Some were even promised reinstatement to their posts under the ANC government.
“It has been over a decade now since we started working on the matter and I have interviewed scores of people, among high-ranking former municipal officials who also held positions in the now-defunct apartheid municipality’s HR and finance departments.”
In 2019, Buzwa approached Col Johan Botha of the SAPS, who was also the head of criminal investigations at the Katlehong North police station, to seek police intervention into the probe.
Botha and his team of investigators have been working around the clock to get the investigation to where it is right now.
Tracing workers’ missing millions
Since taking over the investigation from Buzwa, the SAPS have made strides and managed to take statements from several former municipal employees, some of whom held senior high management positions in the former council.
Many of those who were no paid have over the years been unable to find employment, while scores more have since died and others have retired or moved to another province.
Meanwhile, there are still a few who are holding on to hope. Their dream is to see the matter brought to court as soon as possible and those responsible are found guilty.
Buzwa’s collaboration with the police has provided Botha with enough evidence and information to enable the high-ranking police officer to conclude his probe that has led to identify and confirm some of the possible high-profile officials who are believed to be have been the masterminds behind the missing millions.
Asked by Kathorus MAIL for his comment on the matter, Botha confirmed that investigations into the probe are at an advanced stage but he refused to elaborate further.
“Just wish us good luck. We are doing the best we can,” he said.
