Lentswe, 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 five years direct imprisonment on charges of theft and three years imprisonment on charges of Contravention of Section 173 (MFMA) which was suspended for five 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 of the high-ranking official.
They lauded the investigation and prosecution team for their relentless efforts in fighting corruption in the municipalities. They also said this will serve as a warning to public servants to serve with integrity and accountability.
