Two City of Mbombela (CoM) employees have been arrested by the Hawks for their alleged involvement in the unlawful sale of municipal properties.

Administration officer Sibusiso Dube (42) and his colleague Mandla Shongwe (54) were arrested on June 1 by the Hawks’ Mbombela-based Serious Corruption Investigation unit.

According to Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, the city council implemented a moratorium in 2023 prohibiting the sale of municipal properties.

ALSO READ: City of Mbombela in hot water for alleged corruption

Despite this, Dube, who reportedly has extensive knowledge of the municipality’s property sales processes, is accused of unlawfully transferring ownership of a municipal house valued at R540 000 to his uncle, a person living with a disability, without his knowledge or consent.

Investigators further allege that Dube benefited from the sale of another municipal property valued at R442 000, which was sold to an unwitting police officer.

A third property, valued at R520 000, was allegedly sold to a fellow municipal employee who was aware of the moratorium on property sales.

ALSO READ: City of Mbombela’s CFO ousted

The Hawks also uncovered evidence suggesting that the municipal manager’s signature was forged to facilitate the transactions.

“The property sales were successfully registered with the Deeds Office, resulting in title deeds being issued to the purchasers,” Nkosi explained. He added that proceeds from the transactions were allegedly used for Dube’s personal enrichment.

Shongwe was arrested for allegedly acting as an accomplice with full knowledge that the transactions were unlawful.

The pair appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on June 2, and the matter was postponed to June 5 to obtain legal representation for a formal bail application.

CoM spokesperson Joseph Ngala said the municipality will not be commenting on the matter.