MBOMBELA – The manager of the local municipality walked out of court a free man last week after the fraud charge against him was scrapped from the roll.
Mr Noko Seanego was arrested and charged in January regarding allegations related to the appointment of specialised security officers in Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM) in October.
At the time he was general manager of corporate services. On Thursday the charges were struck off the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court’s roll.
Brig Selvy Mohlala, provincial police spokesman said the reason was that the police had to investigate the matter further. “The magistrate said the investigation was incomplete and recommended that it be referred back to the police.”
Mohlala confirmed that Mbombela detectives were investigating the matter. He added that the charges could be reinstated at a later time.
The appointments contributed to two protests staged by community-services employees in October.
These were dubbed illegal strikes by Mbombela, which suspended 35 workers. Earlier this month they were reinstated and have since returned to work. Disciplinary action continues against two traffic officers.
The EFF’s Mr Cyril Chuene said the party was dissatisfied with the case being scrapped. “Usually when further investigation is required a case is postponed, not removed from the court roll. We will assist where we can to have the charges back on the court roll as soon as possible.”
During a special council meeting after Seanego’s arrest, the executive mayor Cllr Sibusiso Mathonsi announced that he would not investigate the allegations internally.
The DA’s chief whip in council, Mr Werner le Grange plans to table a motion to council during their special council meeting on Thursday to insist that council take a decision on whether to investigate the allegations.
“The mayor can’t make that decision, it is for council to decide.” He added that the party would also request council to recommend that the rules and ethics committee investigate allegations against Mr Bheki Zulu.
A member of the mayoral committee for economic development, Zulu was arrested on charges of malicious damage to property following a skirmish between ANC and South African Communist Party supporters in KaNyamazane.
“It is the principle,” Le Grange explained. “We can’t just turn a blind eye.”
