By Thys Khiba – On Monday former Municipal Manager for Bojanala District Municipality, Pogisho Patrick Shikwane appeared in the North West, Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court for alleged contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003 (MFMA).
This comes after he was arrested by the Hawks on Saturday and charged with two counts of contravention of the MFMA.
Big Time Strategic Consultants was at the time appointed to render the same services at Moses Kotane Municipality where the accused previously served as a Municipal Manager.
“It is alleged that on 08 December 2017 whilst serving as an acting Municipal Manager, the accused irregularly appointed a company called Big Time Strategic Consultants to provide Information Communication Technology (ICT) audit services and development of an ICT strategy for the municipality for over R2.4 million,” said Hawks spokesperson, Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso.
The 51-year-old paid R2.4 million for services that were not rendered by Big Time Strategic Consultants.
It is alleged that the accused obtained written consent to inherit the said contract from Moses Kotane Municipality as per Regulation 32 of 2005 of the Municipal Supply Chain Management Regulations.
“It is reported that the municipality had not budget for the service at the time and a similar service had recently been beenobtained by the municipality.”
Meanwhile Shikwane is accused of allegedly failinh to ensure that the resources of the municipality are used effectively, efficiently and economically as the municipal manager by then.
“He allegedly also further failed to implement the supply chain management policy.”
North West Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation – Major General Patrick Mbotho welcomed the arrest of the former Municipal Manager Shikwane and was impressed by the investigative efforts of the members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit and the work of the Nation Prosecuting Authority for ensuring that the accused has his day in court.
Shikwane is expected to reappear in court on the 26th of September 2022 for disclosure.
In a different legal matter, former Municipal Manager for Rustenburg Municipality, Nqobile Sithole (39), also appeared before the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Her matter was postponed to 04 November 2022 for consultation.
CENTRAL NEWS
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