Minister of Water Affairs and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane will not restructure the Amatola Water Board following fraud and corruption charges brought against chairwoman Nokulunga Mnqeta.
Mnqeta made her second appearance in the East London Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
She was arrested by members of the Hawks on May 23 in connection with allegations she defrauded Amathole District Municipality’s (ADM) Aspire economic development agency of R310000.
Prior to her appointment as chair of the Amatola Water Board, Mnqetha was chief executive officer of Aspire.
Mokonyane’s spokesman Mlimandlela Ndamase said: “The minister is aware of the recent developments regarding the chairperson of the Amatola Water Board and the charges she now faces.
“These charges are in no way related to her work at the Amatola Board and were not in place when her appointment was confirmed by the cabinet.
“At this stage, the minister is adhering to the principle of presumption of innocence on her part.”
Ndamase said Mnqetha was appointed to the board in December 9 last year.
Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said charges against Mnqetha relate to an incident where she used R310000 of taxpayers’ money to settle her private legal bill.
She incurred the bill while fending off misconduct charges brought against her by the erstwhile Aspire board.
She was arrested alongside three Aspire employees – acting CEO Thabo Shenxane, chief financial officer Sandra Weppelman and company secretary Zamela Kiviet.
They are out on R5000 bail each. Their case was postponed to July 22.
Prosecutor Diniso Ketani told the court that investigations had been finalised.
Mulaudzi said Shenxane, 41, was arrested for allegedly submitting an altered council resolution which authorised the payment of the R310000, while Weppelman, 46, was arrested for allegedly authorising the payment without following procurement procedures.
Kiviet, 39, was arrested for allegedly being a beneficiary on the payment.
Mnqeta was forced out of her Aspire CEO position in September last year following an interim high court order declaring her reappointment irregular and invalid.
The urgent application to stop Mnqeta from executing her duties as CEO was brought in August last year by Aspire’s board of directors.
The board suspended her in December 2014 on charges of misconduct and bringing Aspire into disrepute.
The term of the board embroiled in a dispute with her expired in July last year, paving the way for ADM council to rehire Mnqeta as CEO of Aspire.
Upon her reappointment, a council document ordered that municipal funds be used to settle legal bills she incurred fighting the misconduct charges.
The Hawks claim the council document was forged. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Minister unfazed by R310k fraud case
Mnqeta made her second appearance in the East London Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
She was arrested by members of the Hawks on May 23 in connection with allegations she defrauded Amathole District Municipality’s (ADM) Aspire economic development agency of R310000.
Prior to her appointment as chair of the Amatola Water Board, Mnqetha was chief executive officer of Aspire.
Mokonyane’s spokesman Mlimandlela Ndamase said: “The minister is aware of the recent developments regarding the chairperson of the Amatola Water Board and the charges she now faces.
“These charges are in no way related to her work at the Amatola Board and were not in place when her appointment was confirmed by the cabinet.
“At this stage, the minister is adhering to the principle of presumption of innocence on her part.”
Ndamase said Mnqetha was appointed to the board in December 9 last year.
Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said charges against Mnqetha relate to an incident where she used R310000 of taxpayers’ money to settle her private legal bill.
She incurred the bill while fending off misconduct charges brought against her by the erstwhile Aspire board.
She was arrested alongside three Aspire employees – acting CEO Thabo Shenxane, chief financial officer Sandra Weppelman and company secretary Zamela Kiviet.
They are out on R5000 bail each. Their case was postponed to July 22.
Prosecutor Diniso Ketani told the court that investigations had been finalised.
Mulaudzi said Shenxane, 41, was arrested for allegedly submitting an altered council resolution which authorised the payment of the R310000, while Weppelman, 46, was arrested for allegedly authorising the payment without following procurement procedures.
Kiviet, 39, was arrested for allegedly being a beneficiary on the payment.
Mnqeta was forced out of her Aspire CEO position in September last year following an interim high court order declaring her reappointment irregular and invalid.
The urgent application to stop Mnqeta from executing her duties as CEO was brought in August last year by Aspire’s board of directors.
The board suspended her in December 2014 on charges of misconduct and bringing Aspire into disrepute.
The term of the board embroiled in a dispute with her expired in July last year, paving the way for ADM council to rehire Mnqeta as CEO of Aspire.
Upon her reappointment, a council document ordered that municipal funds be used to settle legal bills she incurred fighting the misconduct charges.
The Hawks claim the council document was forged. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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