Sipho Masombuka

Sipho Masombuka

The DA in Moretele is demanding that criminal charges be laid against six senior officials alleged to have defrauded the North West municipality.

DA councillor Shangy Mbekwa said the six officials were suspended on January 19 following an internal investigation. It was established that they defrauded the municipality by unlawfully claiming housing subsidies and exaggerating travel claims.

Mbekwa said the municipal manager was supposed to lay criminal charges after the internal investigation but this did not happen.

"We are worried that the officials did not serve their suspensions. The municipal manager said they did not serve their suspensions because their lawyers said proper procedure was not followed," he said.

Municipal spokesman Mothupi Malebye confirmed the suspensions and said the officials had been suspended for five days. "They are back at work because they have served their suspensions," he said.