Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya.
Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers
The City of Tshwane has placed several Finance Department officials on precautionary suspension after they were implicated in alleged irregular financial transactions linked to a suspected fraud scheme.
The municipality said the suspensions are intended to protect public funds and ensure the integrity of its financial systems while a criminal case against the accused proceeds through the courts.
The officials were identified during investigations that uncovered approximately R1.585 million in suspected fraudulent refund transactions.
City spokesperson Selby Bokaba said the suspensions follow an investigation into suspicious refund payments detected across multiple municipal accounts, which began in May 2023.
“The matter is now formally before the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, marking an important step in the city’s efforts to address fraud and reinforce accountability within the municipal financial systems. Acting on a formal request from the Finance Department, the city’s Forensic Unit commenced a detailed forensic review of refund processes within the Revenue Management Division,” Bokaba said.
The investigation confirmed that irregular transactions had taken place and initially identified seven officials as suspects. Further analysis later narrowed the focus to what investigators believe was an organised syndicate involving four city officials working with external accomplices.
“The group is believed to have identified municipal accounts with credit balances and channelled these details to partners, who then submitted fraudulent refund claims while impersonating legitimate account holders. According to the findings, the fraudulent refunds were ultimately directed into a single private bank account linked to a member of the public,” Bokaba said.
Authorities believe the scheme allowed the group to siphon funds from municipal systems over a period of time. One of the implicated officials resigned before disciplinary proceedings could begin, while the remaining officials became the focus of both internal disciplinary action and criminal investigations.
“Upon completion of the internal investigation, the city referred the matter to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI). In collaboration with the city’s Forensic Unit, investigators secured sufficient evidence to charge four officials and one member of the public, whose bank account was allegedly used in the scheme,” Bokaba said.
Four Tshwane officials and one member of the public appeared before the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on March 4, 2026. Another former official failed to appear in court, resulting in a warrant of arrest being issued.
Bokaba said the municipality will also pursue the recovery of losses in line with the outcome of the court proceedings and applicable legal processes.
“The city reaffirms its zero-tolerance stance on fraud and corruption, and remains committed to safeguarding public funds and ensuring that those responsible for wrongdoing are held accountable.”
He added that the case forms part of broader efforts by the municipality to strengthen its anti-corruption systems, including reviews of payroll fraud detection measures and tighter verification controls across municipal financial systems.
The accused have been released on a warning, subject to court conditions, and the case has been postponed to April 29, 2026.
karabo.ngoepe@inl.co.za