Traffic chief a free man

Soon after his acquittal by the Sibasa Regional Court earlier this week, the Thulamela traffic chief, Mr Thilivhali Mulaudzi (48), said the whole legal battle was a campaign by his political enemies. He was suspended for almost a year on suspicion of corruption, but walked out of court on Monday a free man again.

Regional Court Magistrate Pandelani Mudau withdrew all charges against him.

Mulaudzi had been charged with 800 fraud counts and 800 counts of flouting road traffic regulations in relation to the issuing of licences. He first was initially acquitted in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on July 16, 2003 after being arrested on November 26, 1999 on allegations of corruption and fraud.

Immediately after the withdrawal of the charges, Mulaudzi said that as a God-fearing and law-abiding citizen, he bore no grudges against anybody, but made it clear that somebody would be answerable for everything that had happened. “This was a political plot and an attempt to frustrate my chances of getting the position of senior manager that I applied for at the municipality. I know that because I support Pres Jacob Zuma, some people delayed the appointment until they filed charges against me, just to jeopardise my chances. They did not want me to get the job as I was a known Zuma campaigner and they wanted their friends in the position,” he said.

Mulaudzi, who always maintained his innocence, said he knew the truth would triumph and he be set free. “I am innocent, but I had to secure one of the best lawyers in the country, Adv Barry Roux (SC), who represented Oscar Pistorius in his case. He does not come free and I had to spend a fortune to prove my innocence,” he added.

According to Mulaudzi, he needs his job back, as well as his integrity. “Family and friends no longer trust me. My image has been dented through this total abuse of power by the powers that be. We are just going to wait for the dust to settle and we  see which route to follow. Someone must give answers as to why they did this,” he said.

He said he would take his job back as he did not want to get paid while doing nothing. “I now just give all the glory to the Almighty God. By the grace of God, I will accept my job back and continue to serve my people,” added Mulaudzi.

Instructing lawyer Joshua Maenetja said they knew all along that the case would not stand and that became evident during the last appearance when the case was returned to Sibasa from Makhado.

Mulaudzi was first arrested in 1999 for the same offence and was acquitted in 2003 for lack of evidence. Eleven years later, in January 2012, he was rearrested and faced the same charges. He says when he was rearrested in 2012, he had applied for a post of senior manager in community services at the same municipality and he had taken position one after the interviews.

“Suspiciously, the appointment was delayed until July when I was arrested and the municipality said it could not appoint someone with a cloud hanging over his head,” he said. The post was re-advertised and four people were interviewed last week.

Thulamela spokesperson Nndwamato Tshiila said the municipality could not comment about the court processes. He said Mulaudzi would appear before a municipal disciplinary committee from 27 to 31 May to answer to administrative charges.

Also read:

12 April 2013 - “Double jeopardy”, claim Mulaudzi’s defence team

News - Date: 27 May 2013

Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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