Former mayor cleared of fraud
FORMER Makhuduthamaga municipality mayor Kgaola Abram Mafiri has been cleared of all charges brought against him, including corruption.
Mafiri, 44, had his properties, valued at more than R1,5million, including two luxury vehicles, seized by the Assets Forfeiture Unit two years ago.
This was after he was accused of swindling the municipality of money meant for the poor in Jane Furse.
An elated Mafiri said yesterday that after being humiliated and traumatised, he was now happy that the matter had been laid to rest.
He appeared in the Polokwane regional court on Monday where he was acquitted on all charges.
The court found that all the witnesses who testified against Mafiri were unreliable in that they could not substantiate their claims.
Mafiri was accused of fraud, money laundering, forgery, corruption and conspiracy.
The state had alleged that Mafiri had conspired with the municipal authority to defraud the institution of millions of rand.
This related to a R2,6million water reticulation project for Molepane village near Jane Furse.
Mafiri served as mayor between 2000 and 2006 and the water reticulation project was allegedly commissioned during his tenure.
The court discovered that the contractor who worked on the project was actually appointed by the Sekhukhune district municipality as a service provider in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act of 2003.
Magistrate PD Nkuna found Mafiri not guilty on all charges against him.
During his earlier court appearance on May 19, presiding magistrate Gerick Stiaan had also found him not guilty on all accounts.
The fraud charges against Mafiri included the purchase of school books worth R30million whose procurement was suspected to be irregular.
According to him, all his properties were returned to him "in good condition".
His lawyer, Rudi Krause, was not surprised by the verdict. "We have always maintained Mafiri's innocence and the court proved us right by finding him not guilty on all accounts."
Mafiri owns an engineering and hydraulic supplies company.
Kgwathi
There is no smoke without fire.Deep down in his heart he knows the truth.He may acquitted NOW on earth but the Creator knows the truth.People with capital do not stay in prisons. A good example - MR Bees was given bail for murder, the poor Mr CC (Credit Card picker) was denied bail.You tell me, between the two who committed a serious offence? Your guess is as good as mine.The justice system in Mzansi is not just.Report Abuse
sbo
IF YOY CAN SEE THIS CORRAPTION THAT HAS BE DANN BY THE ANC MEMBERS YOU WOULD HATE EVERY BODY PLMNT BECAUSE THEY ARE TO OLD THEY NEVER HAVE A FOWARD FUTURE WHAT THEY NOW IS TO DO CORRUPTIONReport Abuse