Hawks arrest two traffic officers
apt Paul Ramaloko of the SAPS Hawks confirmed the incident and said, "Two traffic officials were arrested on Tuesday facing charges of fraud and corruption to the amount of R9 million. Since 2011, millions of rand has been unaccounted for at the municipal traffic department and an investigation into the matter were launched."
LYDENBURG – “Vat hulle weg!” This is what several residents and employees at Thaba Chweu Municipality (TCM) chanted as two former traffic officials were arrested, cuffed and led to a Hawks Kombi.
Mr Jacob Phala, Mr Jubani Mthombothi and another traffic official were identified as suspects relating to fraudulent activities within the traffic department at TCM more than two years ago.
According to an eyewitness, the Hawks pounced on Phala at the multi-purpose centre in Mashishing as he was about to enjoy his lunch hour. Mthombothi was arrested at the very same department from which he had previously been suspended.
The traffic department of the municipality was closed down in December 2011 due to the alleged mismanagement of funds and these officials were suspended pending the outcome of the investigations.
This came after an internal audit was requested into irregular activities relating to double dealing in the department. It came as a shock last year that all charges against Phala were dropped by TCM and he was this year appointed as the driver of the newly elected mayor, Mr Michael Ncongwane.
Even more disturbing was the fact that he was then subsequently “promoted” from a level-five position to level one (managerial) and offered the position as manager of the multimillion rand Thusong Centre in Mashishing.
To top it off, the former municipal manager, Mr Surprise Maebela recently confirmed that Phala was said to be on the shortlist for the position of director of social services, citing, “He is currently the acting manager and he is capable of showing leadership. He has been attached to this department for a long time, even as a junior official. He possesses an institutional memory (sic)”. Phala has in the past often bragged openly about his enjoying political protection.
Mthombothi, on the other hand, was found guilty in July last year but was “pitied” back into TCM. Management then gave Steelburger/Lydenburg News a very vague response about his reinstatement on the municipal payroll. “Mthombothi appealed his dismissal to the appeal committee on September 21, 2012. On October 8 that year the chairman of the committee ruled that the decision by the disciplinary committee to dismiss Mthombothi was harsh and he was reinstated. His sanction was a final written warning,” it was casually explained.
Capt Paul Ramaloko of the SAPS Hawks confirmed the incident and said, “Two traffic officials were arrested on Tuesday facing charges of fraud and corruption to the amount of R9 million. Since 2011, millions of rand has been unaccounted for at the municipal traffic department and an investigation into the matter were launched.”
Ramaloko explained that the suspects were senior officials at the municipality and thus understood the loopholes. He confirmed that both Phala and Mthombothi appeared in the Lydenburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. Bail was set at R10 000 each. The case has been postponed to 14 November for further investigation.
