Four Tshwane metro officials and one civilian are set to appear in the Pretoria Specialist Commercial Crime Court on March 4, after a forensic investigation linked them to defrauding the municipality through refund transactions dating back to 2023.

The accused, all allegedly connected to the metro’s Group Finance Services, face charges following an extensive internal probe.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said that, acting on a formal request from its Finance Department, the city’s Forensic Unit commenced a detailed forensic review of refund processes within the Revenue Management Division.

“The probe was initiated in May 2023 after suspicious refund payments were detected across several municipal accounts that reflected credit balances,” he said.

Mashigo said the investigation confirmed that irregular transactions had occurred and identified seven officials as initial suspects.

“Further analysis narrowed the scope to an organised syndicate allegedly comprising four city officials working with external accomplices.”

He said the group is believed to have identified municipal accounts with credit balances and channelled these details to partners, who then submitted fraudulent refund claims, while impersonating legitimate account holders.

“According to the findings, the fraudulent refunds were ultimately directed into a single private bank account linked to a member of the public.”

Mashigo added that this laundering mechanism enabled the syndicate to extract funds from municipal systems over time.

“One implicated official resigned before disciplinary proceedings could commence, while the remaining officials became the focus of both internal and criminal processes.”

Upon completion of the internal investigation, the city referred the matter to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).

“In collaboration with the city’s Forensic Unit, investigators secured sufficient evidence to charge four officials and one civilian whose bank account was allegedly used in the scheme,” Mashigo said.

He said, given the seriousness of the charges and the potential impact on municipal integrity and operations, the city has recommended the immediate suspension of the charged employees in line with disciplinary procedures and labour legislation.

“This case highlights the effectiveness of co-ordinated work between Group Audit and Risk, Ethics Management and Forensic Services and national law-enforcement agencies in protecting public resources and enforcing accountability.”

Mashigo added that the investigation unfolds against the backdrop of broader efforts to strengthen the metro’s anti-corruption framework, including payroll fraud detection reviews and enhanced verification controls across financial systems.

City manager Johann Mettler commended the Ethics Management Forensic Services team and the DPCI for their professional collaboration.

He reaffirmed the city’s zero-tolerance stance on fraud and corruption and its commitment to ensuring that all aspects of the matter are fully addressed.

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