MAKHADO – The Municipal Manager of the Makhado, Mr Reuben Mugivhela Rambado, issued a strong appeal to members of the community not to pay or sign any documents from strangers, who would claim to be coming from the municipality.

This follows a tip-off to the Office of the Municipal Manager by members of the community, that there is a group or an individual in the Nzhelele area who is defrauding community members to sign documents and pay him an amount of R500.

According to Mr Rambado, the culprits defraud community members by telling them that, should they sign the documents and pay the required amount, they would get a tender. "The information that we received stated that the culprits claim to have held the meetings with officials of the Makhado Municipality, claiming to be facilitating tenders for the Municipality in the villages. According to a receipt that is in our position, the culprits defrauded a victim of about R480." He added that the municipality does not facilitate tenders in villages, as "we advertise it, wherein a consultant would be appointed and the council would shortlist given recommendations in terms of the council procurement policy, whereafter the management would take a decision," he said.

Rambado urged members of the community to approach the municipality first, even if the person claims to have been sent by them to facilitate a project in their specific village. "We are also urging victims of this ordeal to approach us or the nearest SAPS to assist us on identifying the suspect. We believe that the suspect is coming from within this Municipal area" he said.

On the defrauding of the community, another culprit is reported by the Municipal Manager to be defrauding residents in Makhado town as he also claims to be an officer delegated by the Municipality to collect money from people who are building in town, but according to Mr Rambado this suspect will soon be arrested, as he is already known to be coming from Madombidzha.

"People must understand that all Municipality-related matters are dealt with at the Municipality and it is still unknown whether the documents used by the culprits contain the letterheads of the Municipality," he said.

Daniel Mathelemusa, who was working at the Makhado Municipality, but stationed at Muduluni Community Hall, was sentenced to six years imprisonment after collecting funds from residents who were paying for services and instead of taking the money to the Municipality, he put it into his own pocket.

Rambado said that strong controls and measures are being strengthened to contain the problem at the Municipality.