The former municipal manager of Nkomazi Local Municipality, Muzi Ngwenya (55), was arrested by the Nelspruit-based Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation on Friday October 28 for fraud, theft and contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act.

The Hawks’ spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, said the arrest followed a Hawks investigation that found the suspect had bought a pre-owned Mercedes-Benz from a vehicle dealership in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, in December 2021, allegedly using municipality funds. He reportedly registered the vehicle on his name, prejudicing the municipality of an actual loss of R900 000.

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The suspect appeared in the Tonga Magistrates’ Court on the same day and was granted R10 000 bail. The case was postponed to January 25 for further investigation.