By Staff Reporter
QWAQWA – Directors of Kill Crime security company , Thabiso Benjamin Sekhosana,55, and Dimakatso Christine Sekhosana ,29 , who are charged of defrauding Maluti-a-phofung over R57 million have been granted a bail of R150 000 00 under strict conditions by Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate D. Kettledas on Monday August, 01 2022 .
The case was postponed to September 30 for further investigation.
A pair ‘s bail condition include house arrest from six to six Monday to Sunday , reporting to Phuthaditjhaba police station once a week ,and were also ordered to surrender their passports.
The crime was allegedly committed in 2020 when municipal manager of Maluti-a- Phofung Futhuli Patrick Mothamaha ,47 addressed as accused one, authorized a contract to a Kill Crime security company (accused number four), a tender worth R58 million for security services without tender being advertised.
Granting bail to the Sekhosanas, Kettledas said , court has considered public interest and amount of money that was paid with no dispute and also considered the fact that they had been cooperative and had handed themselves to police .
He however said despite arrangement made between the defence and state prior court appearance that an amount of R50 000 00 had been agreed upon and there will be no opposition to bail , he still need to use his discretion to determine the amount of bail as rejected R50 000,00, instead imposed R150 000,00 .
“You must see yourself as lucky that arrangement was made that the state will not oppose the bail and agreed on a bail of R50 000.00 But the court must be mindful of circumstances put before it and that corruption is prevalent . Arrangement has been made between defence and state but I must use my discretion . People suffer and we have to pay large amount of taxes because of corruption. This is a serious matter therefore R150 000,00 is the bail, R50 000 00 is too little for an amount of money paid.”
This after a pair through their legal representative attorney Tshepo Thuso told the court that they intend not to plead guilty to the charges.
Public Prosecutor Advocate Phendulwa Zondo concurred with defence lawyer that state is not opposing bail and have agreed on the bail of R50 000,00 which magistrate has already rejected as too little.
According to the Hawks spokesperson Christopher Singo, It is reported that the chief financial officer (CFO) warned the MM through writing several letters advising him to advertise the tender.
“It is reported CFO wrote several letters to the municipal manager advising him to advertise the tender for the security services but he failed to do so. An estimation of R58 million was paid to the service provider irregularly for a period of two years.”
He said the pair handed themselves in to the Bethlehem office of the Hawks after the matter was reported to the serious corruption investigation team on Sunday July 31,2022.
During an interview with this publication after court proceedings, Singo said more arrests are imminent including that of municipal manager.
The state intends to call up to 15 witnesses to testify.
