Two municipal employees from the City of Mbombela are scheduled to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court today, 2 June 2026, following their arrest for allegedly orchestrating the unlawful sale of municipal properties. The suspect, a 42-year-old administration officer and his 54-year-old colleague, were taken into custody by the Hawks' Nelspruit-based Serious Corruption Investigation Unit.
Details of the alleged fraud
The City Council had implemented a moratorium in 2023 that strictly prohibited the sale of any municipal properties. Despite this directive, the administration officer is accused of leveraging his specialised knowledge of municipal processes to siphon more than R1.5 million through illicit transactions.
Investigations indicate that the administration officer allegedly transferred a property valued at R540 000.00 into the name of his uncle, a person living with a disability, without the uncle's knowledge or consent, eventually keeping the property under his own control. Furthermore, he is alleged to have sold a second property worth R442 000.00 to an unsuspecting police official and a third property valued at R520 000.00 to a fellow employee who was reportedly aware of the existing moratorium.
Forgery and administrative breaches
The Hawks uncovered evidence indicating that the Municipal Manager's signature was forged to facilitate these sales. These transactions successfully passed through administrative processes and were registered with the Deeds Office, resulting in the issuance of official title deeds to the buyers.
While the administration officer is accused of using the proceeds for personal enrichment, his 54-year-old colleague is charged as an accomplice for knowingly participating in the unlawful scheme.
Warning to public servants
In response to the arrests, the Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation issued a stern warning to public servants, emphasising that those who abuse their positions of authority for personal gain will face serious consequences.