The Christiana Magistrate's Court has postponed the case of Mokgopane Hendrick Thokoane, former Chief Financial Officer of the Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality, to 31 January 2025 for further investigation. Thokoane, who was arrested by the Hawks on charges of fraud and contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act, made his first court appearance, where he was released on R10,000 bail.
The charges against Thokoane stem from allegations related to his role as CFO and Senior Manager, in which he was responsible for managing municipal finances and implementing the municipality's budget. An investigation revealed that between April and May 2022, Thokoane arranged a vehicle lease for the municipality’s mayor through Thabethe and Co. without following proper procurement procedures or notifying the Municipal Manager.
Former Lekwa Teemane Municipality CFO Arrested for Alleged Fraud and MFMA Violations
During court proceedings, it was alleged that Thabethe and Co. provided the leased vehicle without a formal request or quotation, and that Thokoane misrepresented the lease as being approved by the Municipal Manager. This misrepresentation reportedly led to a financial loss of around R167,600 for the municipality.
Dr. Rachel Makhari, Director of Public Prosecutions for the North West, commended the prosecution and investigation teams for their dedication in bringing the matter to court. She emphasized the commitment of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to tackling financial misconduct within public service, underscoring the need for accountability in managing public funds.
Thokoane's case will resume in January, allowing time for further investigation into the alleged financial mismanagement.
