A STORM is brewing between a Limpopo builder and the Mopani district municipality over an allegedly fraudulently cashed cheque amid claims of blackmail.
Limpopo Business Forum (LBF) spokesperson Motinki Mahlo is alleged to have fraudulently collected a cheque for R20000 from the municipality and cashed it.
The cheque allegedly belonged to Mosotho Mahlo, who had previously done work for the Mopani municipality (Mosotho has the same surname as Motinki).
When the municipality realised the cheque had been collected by the wrong person, Motinki Mahlo had already cashed it.
"On investigating the matter we found that the cheque had been signed for and collected by Motinki Mahlo and not the actual beneficiary (Mosotho Mahlo)," said Mopani district municipality chief financial officer Molefe Mokgoloboto yesterday.
"We called Motinki Mahlo to explain the mix-up and he confirmed collecting the cheque. He added that he had already used all the money."
The municipality confirmed that Motinki Mahlo also had a project with the municipality to build a school in the Sekgosese area.
"We transferred money from the municipal account into Motinki Mahlo's account as payment for the school project," Mokgoboloto said.
But Motinki Mahlo poured cold water on Mokgoloboto's claims of fraud and blackmail.
He said the cheque was "retention money" which the municipality had held over until he had completed the school project.
"These people are cooking up stories against me because they know I have very sensitive information which has the potential to have them fired from their positions," said Motinki Mahlo.
"They know I have proof of their extra-marital affairs and nefarious businesses that I wanted to expose in the media.
"If they want to fight fire with fire, I am more than ready."
The rift between Mahlo and the municipality comes weeks after reports that Mahlo was allegedly trying to blackmail Premier Cassel Mathale, ANC Youth League president Julius Malema and senior politicians because they did not award tenders to him and members of the LBF.
Cheque fraud row in council
A STORM is brewing between a Limpopo builder and the Mopani district municipality over an allegedly fraudulently cashed cheque amid claims of blackmail.
Limpopo Business Forum (LBF) spokesperson Motinki Mahlo is alleged to have fraudulently collected a cheque for R20000 from the municipality and cashed it.
The cheque allegedly belonged to Mosotho Mahlo, who had previously done work for the Mopani municipality (Mosotho has the same surname as Motinki).
When the municipality realised the cheque had been collected by the wrong person, Motinki Mahlo had already cashed it.
"On investigating the matter we found that the cheque had been signed for and collected by Motinki Mahlo and not the actual beneficiary (Mosotho Mahlo)," said Mopani district municipality chief financial officer Molefe Mokgoloboto yesterday.
"We called Motinki Mahlo to explain the mix-up and he confirmed collecting the cheque. He added that he had already used all the money."
The municipality confirmed that Motinki Mahlo also had a project with the municipality to build a school in the Sekgosese area.
"We transferred money from the municipal account into Motinki Mahlo's account as payment for the school project," Mokgoboloto said.
But Motinki Mahlo poured cold water on Mokgoloboto's claims of fraud and blackmail.
He said the cheque was "retention money" which the municipality had held over until he had completed the school project.
"These people are cooking up stories against me because they know I have very sensitive information which has the potential to have them fired from their positions," said Motinki Mahlo.
"They know I have proof of their extra-marital affairs and nefarious businesses that I wanted to expose in the media.
"If they want to fight fire with fire, I am more than ready."
The rift between Mahlo and the municipality comes weeks after reports that Mahlo was allegedly trying to blackmail Premier Cassel Mathale, ANC Youth League president Julius Malema and senior politicians because they did not award tenders to him and members of the LBF.
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