A Mpumalanga ward councilor and teacher who allegedly stole 21 bags of farm manure was released on a R1000 bail in the Komatipoort magistrates' court on Friday.

Councillor Ephraim Ngomane, 39, of the Nkomazi local municipality is also a farmer. Ngomane and his two co-accused, King Nkuna, 33, and Jerome Nkosi, 24, were not asked to plead on a charge of theft and the case was postponed for further investigation.

The three were arrested on Thursday night after they were spotted by a security guard loading bags of manure on to a bakkie.

Police spokesman Michael Ngomane said the security guard followed the councilor's bakkie and called the police.

"They were found with 21 bags of 50kg fertilizer," said Ngomane.

Nkosi, one of the suspects, is a security guard at the storehouse.

The mayor of Nkomazi municipality, John Mavuso, said he was not aware of the matter.

"I'm not aware, I have not been informed about the arrest and cannot comment further," he said. - Sakhile Mokoena