The Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court convicted the former Project Manager of Dr Pixley Ka Seme Local Municipality, Luthando Mpangeva, and the former administration clerk at supply chain, Mxolisi Evidence Hadebe, for fraud and money laundering.

The pair was charged along with Sibusiso Blessing Simelane, the sole director of Evoke Trading (Pty) Ltd, who pleaded guilty to the crime, and the trial was separated.

In 2018, the trio colluded together in facilitating and submitting fraudulent invoices of Evoke Trading (Pty) Ltd to the municipality without any services rendered.

As a result, the municipality suffered a loss of over R150 000.

Mpangeva and Hadebe were both convicted on five counts of fraud and money laundering in terms of section 4 (1)(a)(ii) of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004.

The case has been postponed to 24 and 25 October, for a pre-sentence report, and sentencing in the same court.