Pretoria - A senior manager employed by the Tzaneen Municipality in Limpopo has been arrested for fraud after submitting fake and fabricated certificates to secure employment.
The 30-year-old woman, who earned a R2.5 annual salary, has been working for the municipality for four years. She was arrested on Wednesday by the provincial Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).
According to the information received, the suspect worked in the Water Affairs section of the municipality since November 2009 after applying for the post and her subsequent appointment.
It is alleged that she applied for another post at the Waterberg Municipality sometime last year and upon verifying her qualifications in engineering from the Tshwane University of Technology, the Waterberg Municipality became suspicious and reported the matter to the Commercial Crime Unit of the SAPS.
Head of the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation in Limpopo, Major General Dibero Molatjana, said that subsequent investigations revealed that the qualifications were indeed false. She was arrested in Pretoria on charges of fraud and is expected to appear in the Tzaneen Magistrates' Court later this week.
Molatjana warned that fraud and corruption would not be tolerated under any circumstances, no matter the status and position of the person involved.
"As we have said before, we will fight corruption aggressively and go after those who operate with impunity and pillage the resources of the state. Anyone who breaks the rules will be caught and punished. No cover up would be allowed no matter how senior the officer, or how embarrassing it may be," Molatjana said. - SAnews.gov.za
