Ex-Nketoane mayor sentenced to eight years in jail for fraud

The former mayor of Nketoane municipality and accomplices has been handed down a hefty sentence following their corruption case.

The trio namely, Mandla Mamba (49), Vincent Mkhefa (46), and Caroline Nketu (52) appeared before the Bethlehem Commercial Crime Court on Tuesday, where they were sentenced for fraud, money laundering and contravening local government municipal finance management act.

Speaking to Free State Hawks spokesperson Christopher Singo, he said their conviction originates from an incident which took place during 2011 where a whistle blower reported alleged tender fraud and corruption committed at Nketoane Local Municipality.

This was in regards to the installation of equipment in the parks, where incorrect procurement procedures were followed.

It is further alleged that Mamba the former Mayor of Nketoane Local Municipality sourced a service provider who is not attached to this fraudulent activities and requested her to provide a quotation for playground equipment.

The service provider submitted the quotation for the amount of R32000 and later delivered the equipment. She was then paid by the municipality for services that she rendered.

During the same period of time Nketu who was a service provider was also requested to provide quotations for the same tender contract.

Two quotation was then submitted for the amount of R198 500 each.

Mkhefa the former CFO authorized two payments to Nketu for the amount of R165 600 and R198 500 on two different occasions. No services were rendered by Nketu to the municipality.

It was also discovered that Nketu paid R1000 on two different occasions to Mamba. As a result of this fraudulent activities the municipality suffered a total loss of more than R364 000.

The matter was reported to the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Bloemfontein for further investigation which culminated to the arrest of the trio on Friday 19 July 2019.

They appeared in court several times until their conviction on Monday, 20 September 2021.

The court sentenced Mamba and Mkhefa to eight years direct imprisonment whilst Nketu was sentenced to four four years direct imprisonment.