STELLALANDER-MADIBOGO: Corruption has once again rocked the Ratlou Local Municipality after the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit arrested the municipality’s former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and a Payroll Clerk on charges of fraud.
The arrests, carried out on Monday, 15 September 2025, expose how senior officials allegedly manipulated municipal systems for personal gain while service delivery in Ratlou remains in crisis.
Investigations revealed that in March 2022, the CFO unlawfully appointed the payroll clerk as acting expenditure manager without the approval of the municipal manager. Just months later, in November 2022, he allegedly authorised a payment of more than R49 000 to her as an “acting allowance.” Shockingly, it was found that she had never performed any of the duties associated with the acting role. The accused, Tumelo Letlojane (35) and Maikano Keikantsemang Sedumedi (53), appeared in the Setlagole Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 16 September 2025, where they were released on R2 000 bail each. Their case has been postponed to 21 October 2025 for their first appearance at the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Mmabatho. This latest scandal highlights deep-rooted governance failures in Ratlou, a municipality already plagued by allegations of financial mismanagement and poor service delivery. Community members have expressed outrage, questioning how millions are squandered while residents continue to suffer from unreliable water, poor roads, and collapsing infrastructure.
