Mantsopa accounting officer in court for fraud close to R550,000

Show Voice Options Tswelopele Municipality suffered a loss of R530,190.80 after Matiro Mogopodi (57), appointed Letlhogonolo Mokgeledi (42) and his company Upsurge Construction and Projects (Pty) Ltd as a service provider to render debt collection services. Mogopodi and Mokgeledi were released on R10,000 bail each after they appeared in the Bultfontein Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (28/5) on charges of fraud, contravention of the Finance Management Act and the Debt Collectors Act. “Mogopodi appointed a service provider to render debt collection services for the municipality, without following proper municipality supply chain procedures,” said Free State Hawks spokesperson Fikiswa Matoti. Irregular and inefficient expenditure “As a result a payment to the amount of about R530,190.80 was transferred to the service provider’s bank account. A case was registered then referred to the Hawks in Welkom for further investigation.” Councillors became aware of the issue when a report from the Auditor General exposed the municipality’s irregular and inefficient expenditure on the employment and payment of the service provider. The service provider never provided the services for which he was paid, according to the report, and he produced false invoices and papers. The DA in Mantsopa welcomed the arrest of Mogopodi, who was appointed as an accounting officer during a special council meeting in March of 2023. “The party will write to the speaker’s office to request an immediate special council meeting,” said Mantsopa DA Cllr Tim Mpakathe. Strong message sent “The reason for the meeting is so that the council can discuss and make a decision regarding the accusations of financial misconduct against our current accounting officer. Her arrest will send a strong message to everyone involved in the business of purloining money intended for service delivery.” The party will closely monitor this matter to verify whether charges were already in place when Mantsopa appointed her, as this would constitute a violation of the Municipal Systems Act, he said. OFM News/Zenande Mpame