Klerksdorp Hawks officer in Pretoria court for extortion

A lieutenant colonel attached to the Klerksdorp Hawks is expected in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Thursday to appear on charges of corruption and extortion.

The officer was arrested recently and made his first appearance on Thursday.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe says the officer was arrested after a senior municipal official complained about extortion.

Mathe explains a City of Matlosana municipality senior official and CFO Mercy Phetla (38) alleged the latter was extorted by a member attached to the Klerksdorp branch of the Hawks.

“The accused alleged the CFO had bought an Amarok Volkswagen bakkie after receiving some kickbacks,” Mathe says.

He reportedly threatened the complainant with arrest for receiving kickbacks unless she paid him R50 000. “The money was paid, however, the accused later demanded [another] R100 000.”

Mathe said the official paid the lieutenant colonel again. “The accused later demanded another R100 000, and she reported the matter to the police, whereby a sting operation was conducted in Silver Lakes [in Pretoria].”

Case against CFO and employees

On January 17, the CFO and two GMHM Construction and Projects employees were in the dock on corruption charges.

Phetla has since been released on R35 000 bail and is scheduled to appear in a Klerksdorp court on March 1.

The corruption charges are fuelled by allegations that the Mabopane company, GMHM Construction and Projects, purchased a Volkswagen Amarok (worth R1.4m) for Phetla in June 2023. It is alleged she did not declare the benefit to the council.

🔴ANC Councillors Protect “CORRUPT” CFO🔴

Local⚡️

After the arrest of Matlosana CFO & statements from various parties and organisations regarding the suspension of the corrupt accused CFO at the City of Matlosana, Mercy Phetla, ANC councillors say the CFO is going nowhere. pic.twitter.com/MacubjqbOb

— The Insight Factor (@insightfactor) February 7, 2024

GMHM Construction and Projects had won a tender to supply paraffin to the North West municipality.

North West NPA spokesperson Henry Mamothame confirmed Phetla as well as Matshepiso Mothelesane (39) and Nomthandazo Mokasule (49), employees of GMHM Construction and Projects, appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on January 17 on corruption charges.

“The trio had handed themselves to the Klerksdorp Hawks earlier,” he says and adds the case was postponed.

The accused were ordered to surrender their passports to the investigating officer and that all documents relating to GMHM be immediately removed from the CFO as conditions for bail.