Former George official held for ‘illegal dealings’

FOLLOWING years of investigation, a 70-year-old former George municipal manager was arrested and released on warning this week by a George Court in connection with R5-million’s worth of “illegal dealings”.

Cecil Mark Africa, who special police investigating unit the Hawks yesterday said was now employed as the municipal manager of the Western Cape’s Swellendam local municipality, was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the “illegal dealings” and appeared in the George Regional Court on the same day.

Africa served as the director of planning and development and later the manager of the George Municipality between 2004 and 2008.

Announcing the arrest and court appearance yesterday, Hawks spokesman Major Robert Netshiunda said it was alleged that Africa had “unlawfully and intentionally failed to take reasonable steps to prevent unreasonable, irregular and wasteful expenditure”.

“He allegedly went against the legal opinion from the national Treasury and went on with the establishment of a Section 21 company, the George Housing Association (GHA), which he made people believe would address the housing challenges within the municipality.”

Funds amounting to R5-million were allegedly made over to the company.

Netshiunda said no house had ever been built by the company and none of the things which were put forward as the objectives of GHA had been achieved.