Former Nkomazi municipal manager arrested for fraud
NKOMAZI - The former municipal manager of Nkomazi Local Municipality, Muzi Ngwenya (55), was released on R10 000 bail after he was arrested for fraud.
Ngwenya was arrested by the Mbombela-based Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit on Friday for fraud, theft and contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act.
The Hawks’ spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, said the arrest followed a Hawks investigation that found the suspect had bought a pre-owned Mercedes-Benz from a vehicle dealership in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, in December 2021, allegedly using municipality funds.
He reportedly registered the vehicle in his name, prejudicing the municipality of an actual loss of R900 000.
The suspect appeared in the Tonga Magistrate’s Court on the same day and was granted R10 000 bail. The case was postponed to January 25 for further investigation.
The Mpumalanga DA welcomed Ngwenya’s arrest and called on Mayor Johan Mkhatshwa to urgently institute an internal investigation to determine if there were any other funds mismanaged under Ngwenya’s watch, who had administered public funds for years.