BREAKING NEWS – Mpe to testify in fraud case

Capricorn District Municipality (CDM) Executive Mayor, John Mpe was summoned to appear in the Polokwane Regional Court earlier today (Friday) to testify against an alleged fraudster who had apparently claimed that he was Mpe and solicited donations from a local businessperson of the city.
The accused did not plea to the charge and the case was postponed and his bail extended without Mpe being called to testify.
After the court proceedings, Mpe addressed the media at CDM’s head office in the city and disclosed that the accused, Abel Maleka, was unknown to him. “A local businessman approached me and mentioned that he had made a donation of
R19 000 to CDM at my request but had not received any acknowledgement. I realised that somebody was using my name for fraudulent purposes and the matter was reported to the Police for investigation that led to the arrest,” Mpe said.
Mpe said that he suspected Maleka to be a member of a syndicate and confirmed that he intended to register another case with the Police soon. ”The names of other mayors and MECs were allegedly also used in the same scam,” Mpe said.
Mpe reiterated that CDM would not tolerate any corruption and fraudulent activities and called on the public to report any such activities to the municipality’s anti-fraud hotline on 0800 20 50 53. “I will personally testify in cases where I am required to do so,” Mpe said, and urged businesspersons to be vigilant and not become victims of this scam.

Story and photo: BARRY VILJOEN
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