Klerksdorp Lentswe

12/10/2025

10/10/2025

09/10/2025

NEWS ◾ The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) and the Hawks have secured a preservation order valued at R2.7 million, freezing three luxury vehicles connected to a high-profile fraud and corruption case involving the City of Matlosana Municipality’s Chief Financial Officer, Mercy Phetla, and five co-accused.

The order was granted by the High Court of South Africa’s North West Division on September 26, 2025. According to Lt Col Tinyeko Mathebula, the order is a significant step in a case where the municipality allegedly paid over R6 million for services that were never delivered.

An investigation by the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation unit revealed that between September 2023 and January 2024, the municipality made fraudulent payments to a service provider named Variegated (Pty) Ltd. It is alleged that from this amount, over R4 million was channeled to a vehicle dealership to purchase luxury cars.

The preservation order specifically applies to a Mercedes Benz CLA200, a Range Rover Evoque, and a Maserati Levante S M156, with a combined estimated value of R2.7 million.

Phetla is one of six individuals implicated in the matter. The other accused are Tiisetso Sebetlela, the director of Variegated; Josephine Tsimane, a municipal stores official; Anga Shongwe; Mathapelo Puswe; and Vincent Shongwe. All six are expected to appear in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Klerksdorp on October 27, 2025.

09/10/2025

This week's newspaper ➡ https://tinyurl.com/lentswe-10oct2025