Opposition parties in the Northern Cape have welcomed the arrest of a councillor of the Joe Morolong Municipality and her son on charges of corruption.
Keemenao Julia Katong (50) and Boineelo Lennox Katong (30) will appear in the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court on 22 July after they were granted bail of R2 000 each last month.
The Hawks’ Northern Cape provincial spokesperson, Nomthandazo Mnisi, says Keemenao faces five counts of corruption while her son is charged with corruption, fraud, uttering and forgery.
- Mnisi says it is alleged that between April and September 2019, Keemenao demanded gratifications from a subcontractor, who provided transport services for workers of Down Touch Investment, to ensure that the services provided to the contractor were not terminated.
Transport was provided for workers employed on a road construction tender estimated to be worth R286 000.
Mnisi says transactions were allegedly made to the suspect’s bank account until the subcontractor was unable to pay more.
It is also alleged that Keemenao told the subcontractor that she is going to take him out of the business of transporting Down Touch Investment workers.
Boineelo, who is employed as the community liaison officer, allegedly facilitated the process of removing the subcontractor’s taxis out of the project by making false presentations to the site manager of Down Touch Investment, says Mnisi.
DA provincial MPL and constituency head for the Joe Morolong Municipality, Ofentse Mokae, says the DA is pleased by the cooperation between the Hawks Serious Corruption Unit and the Kuruman Tactical Response Team, that led to the swift arrest of the Katongs.
“It is a shame that we have to deal with corrupt councillors in our municipalities. We cannot allow officials to extort local businesses for their own gain while our economy crumbles under corruption.”
The DA is requesting MEC Bentley Vass to ensure that Katong is immediately suspended and that all extorted moneys are paid into the coffers of the Joe Morolong Municipality, says Mokae.
EFF provincial chairperson, Aubrey Baartman, says corruption is robbing communities of quality and dignified service delivery, where public funds were being misused by officer-bearers.
“We applaud the SAPS and the Hawks for apprehending the councillor in ward 4at the Joe Morolong Local Municipality,” says Baartman.
Baartman says this arrest is just the start of greater corrupt activities that are occurring at local government level.
“The law must take its course and deal with all those found wanting.”
