Employees of the Musina Municipality recently appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on charges for fraudulently collecting child grants.

Thirty-four employees have been implicated, but only 14 were found to have engaged in corrupt activities.

Municipal spokesperson Wilson Dzebu said that the 14 employees had been found to have defrauded the state.

He said an investigation had discovered that one of the officials was paid no less than R39 000 in child support grants.

He said the discovery followed an intensive investigation by the police’s special investigating unit. There were initial suspicions that most government officials in the area were receiving grants, in spite of the fact that they did not qualify for them.

Dzebu said during the investigations it was found that some among the 34 officials had applied for cancellation after being employed at the municipality, but the 14 implicated officials continued to receive the money.

He said appropriate action would be taken against the officials once the investigations had been completed.

“We are serious about the fight against fraud and corruption in our institution,” he said.

The convicted employees were given sentences of five years, which have been suspended for five years on condition that they do not engage themselves in corrupt and fraudulent activities. They were also ordered to repay the money.

The operation to rid the country of corruption and fraud is not only confined to Musina but a national campaign that involves all departments.