Ndudi Anyim
No fewer than nine suspects have been arrested by the Hawks’ National Clean Audit Task Team, for R53 million fraud in Gauteng.
The suspects whose age range between 23/and 60, were arraigned before the Pretoria Magistrates court on Friday.
It was gathered that the suspects were arrested for allegedly defrauding the City of Tshwane Municipality of the millions.
Preliminary investigation resvealed that in December 2019, R53 million was stolen from the municipality after the system was allegedly hacked.
Cash was transferred to different bank accounts including that of Ayakhula Trading. The former director of the company, Mr Sithole and Mr Wegrostek, were arrested immediately after the fraudulent transaction.
Colonel Katlego Mogale, who spoke on the arrests, said: “ Ayakhula Trading is also implicated in similar fraudulent act where an estimated R1 billion JSE Trustee account was targeted by this business syndicate, thanks to the Absa banker’s suspicions of irregularities.
“ The alert action saw the National Task Team linking nine individuals to the attack on the municipality. They will be charged for fraud and corruption. They will appear at the Pretoria Special Commercial Crimes Court joining Sithole and Wegrostek.
“ The fight against looting of the municipality funds that cripple service delivery will continue until the perpetrators are prosecuted. ”
