THE chief financial officer (CFO) at the City of Matlosana Local Municipality in the North West, Mercy Phetla, has been arrested for allegedly receiving a car gift worth R1,4 million.
According to the Hawks, Phetla (38) received a VW Amarok bakkie from GMHM Construction and Projects employees in June 2023.
This gift was allegedly in exchange for the service delivery tenders that she gave to the company.
Sources within the municipality said that one of the tenders linked to the car gift was the paraffin tender, a municipal initiative providing energy to poor communities without electricity around Matlosana.
Phetla was arrested on Wednesday, 17 January, together with two company employees, Matshepiso Mothelesane (39) and Nomthandazo Mokasule (49).
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“That bakkie was bought in Sandton, but we were not shocked when we heard that she received that luxurious gift from that company. One of the women arrested is a wife to a well-known and wealthy tycoon here in Klerksdorp. They drive flashy cars, and we are used to that. Here we call her (Phetla) Ms 15 % because everyone who gets a tender through her must pay 15% of the tender amount first,” a source said.
The trio appeared before the Klerksdorp Magistrates Court and are facing charges of corruption.
According to the Hawks spokesman Warrant Officer Amogelang Waletse, the trio handed themselves to the Klerksdorp based Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation on Wednesday morning.
The trio were released on R35 000 bail each.
“They have been ordered to hand their passports to the investigating officers and all documents relating to GMHM to be immediately removed from the CFO,” she said.
Their case was postponed to 1 March 2024 for further investigation.
