FORMER MUNICIPALITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING MANAGER ARRESTED FOR FRAUD AND THEFT WORTH APPROXIMATELY R100 MILLION

GAUTENG – The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Germiston arrested a 39-year-old man for approximately R100 million worth of alleged fraud and theft charges on Wednesday, 31 March.
It is alleged that the suspect, Tshepo Pule Malekana allegedly sold the Lesedi Municipality’s vacant land to potential buyers in cash without the city council’s permission between 2017 and 2019 when he was employed as the Development and Planning Manager.
Further investigation revealed that Malekana fraudulently created the Municipal Manager’s signature also giving power of attorney to different lawyers in Gauteng for the land purchasing facilitation.
He handed himself in at the Germiston office accompanied by his attorney and was subsequently charged for fraud and theft.
He appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court the same day he was apprehended.
Malekana was granted bail of R3000 and the case is postponed to 11 May 2021 for disclosure. More arrests cannot be ruled. Investigation continues.