Garden Route municipal manager Monde Stratu (47) and former Knysna municipal manager Sitembele Wiseman Vatala (56), who is currently unemployed, were released on R15 000 bail each, with strict bail conditions, following their court appearance in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

The two are facing charges of fraud, forgery and uttering and their case was postponed to May 12 for further investigation and to set a regional court date.

The matter was investigated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).

In a statement, Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani provided some background: “It is alleged that between April and December 2019 the accused failed to declare seven municipal contingency assets to the Auditor-General which were previously reflected on the 2012 and 2017 financial year audit reports of Knysna Local Municipality. These properties were supposed to be transferred from Knysna Local Municipality to Garden Route District Municipality, but the transfer could not take place.

“The value of these properties is R64m. As a result of this alleged fraud the Knysna Local Municipality suffered losses. It was further alleged that the accused falsified the 2018/2019 audit report.”