LIMPOPO – THE newly-appointed Mogalakwena mayor, Parks Sebatjane is still reeling with shock after he discovered a fraudulent transaction of R5,57 million of taxpayers money on Monday.
Sebatjane said the discrepancy was detected by municipal officials in the finance department.
“This money was earmarked for four different service providers. As soon as the discrepancy was detected, all transactions and payments were frozen and the computers which were used for those transactions have been confiscated. We cannot go into detail since investigations are underway,” said Sebatjane.
“The report we got from the management is that the money ended in different accounts, not the accounts of the rightful service providers.
“A case of fraud has been opened with the police’s commercial crime, we have put measures in place to curb the recurrence of this kind of fraudulent activity and to protect the municipality’s money that is available now,” he said.
“Over and above, police investigations are underway and we cannot confirm whether it is an internal or external matter. Once investigations are concluded, we will be able to point out what really happened.”
He said they viewed the matter in a very serious light and if found that any municipal official had a hand in the matter, the municipality would take urgent measures.
“We have informed the provincial treasury and the department of coorporative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs and treasury has already dispatched people to assist,” he said
Provincial police spokesperson, Col Ronél Otto confirmed that a case of fraud was opened at the Mokopane police station and was being investigated by the commercial crime division.
