Three senior officials in the Kannaland Municipality were earlier today arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team for fraud – the Director of Corporate Services, Hendrick Barnard; the former Chief Financial Officer, Nigel Delo and the Human Resources Manager, McGrandile Makier.
The municipal manager, Morne Hoogbaard, later handed himself over to the Hawks’offices.
They all appeared in the Ladismith Magistrates Court and were released on bail of R15 000 each.
It is alleged that they defrauded the municipality of more than R338 million by enriching themselves through fraudulent appointments in senior positions, acting allowances and that the company owned by one of them benefitted whilst the owner was working for the municipality.
The matter was postponed to 26 January 2022 in the Oudtshoorn Regional Court.