Free State MEC back in court

Free State Health MEC Benny Malakoane and five others accused of fraud and corruption in the Matjhabeng local municipality are expected to appear in the Welkom Magistrate's Court on Friday.

 

In July, The New Age reported that Malakoane and his co-accused were arrested by the Hawks for crimes relating to contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.

 

Malakoane was appointed after the death of Fundiswa Fezi Ngubentombi in December 2012.

 

Malakoane was the municipal manager at Matjhabeng municipality between 2007 and 2010 when the alleged crimes were committed, the newspaper reported.

 

Hawks spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko reportedly told the newspaper that Malakoane was accused of irregularly awarding a tender for the supply and installation of photocopy machines and telephone lines to the municipality.

 

Five of the accused were released on bail of R20,000, and one of them was out on bail of R5000.

 

-Sapa