Klerksdorp Record, Klerksdorp - Last week, former Municipal Manager Abbey Dlavane (61) was sentenced to five years imprisonment on charges of theft and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
Dlavane was employed as the Municipal Manager for Dr Kenneth Kaunda District municipality between January 2009 and March 2010.
He was found guilty of instructing a credit controller to issue a cheque amounting to R550 000 to Kumekucha Investment for services not rendered to the municipality. He was sentenced on Friday April 25.
The case was investigated by the Klerksdorp Hawks who revealed that Dlavane was actually the sole member of Kumekucha Investment. Sivenathi Gunya, NPA spokesperson, said it was further established that he failed to follow proper municipal supply chain management policy processes as he authorized the payment without implementing a competitive bidding process.
He was sentenced to 5 years direct imprisonment on charges of theft and 3 years imprisonment on charges of Contravention of Section 173 (MFMA) which was suspended for 5 years.
The North West Acting Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Brigadier Georgia Moos and the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari welcomed the sentence.
They lauded the investigation and prosecution team for their relentless efforts in fighting corruption in the municipalities as they said this will serve as a stern warning to public servants to serve with integrity and accountability.
