The Citizen reports that a multimillion-rand case of fraud against the Kopanong Local Municipality in the Free State, which allegedly defrauded its workers in pension fund and medical aid contributions, has stalled.  

The SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu), which opened the case last year, believes the probe was stalling due to “outside political influence” with the motive of killing the investigation.  Samwu Free State secretary Thabang Tseuoa said on Wednesday:  “The matter is still with the Hawks, it is being investigated by Captain Makgetla and we were informed as far as February that there was an impending arrest of the municipal manager, which to date has not been effected …”  The prosecutor was apparently reluctant to continue with the case because she needed further particulars from the investigating officer, who had failed to provide them to her.  “The inference that we draw out of this is that both the Hawks and the [National Prosecuting Authority] might be reluctant to prosecute because of an outside political influence,” Tseuoa claimed.  He went on to state:  “Our view is more strengthened by the fact that the municipal manager once alleged that his arrest was imminent but because he knows people in high places he is not in custody.  We are going to give them a chance and should they decline to prosecute, we intend to go for private prosecution.”

• Read the full original of Gcina Ntsaluba’s report on this story at The Citizen

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