Ex-KSD mayor, municipal manager ask NPA to drop fraud charges

Former King Sabata Dalindyebo mayor Nyaniso Nelani and municipal manager Ngamela Pakade have petitioned prosecutors to withdraw fraud charges against them arising from Nelani’s municipality-funded trip to an ANC rally in Durban. In another twist on Monday, the UDM attempted to report criminal complaints against KSD council speaker Nomamfengu Siyo-Sokutu and chief whip Bongani Mlanjeni, alleging they were also implicated in the scandal that has already landed five people in court. Nelani, 63, Pakade, 55, former chief financial officer Fudumele Jiholo, 63, Nelani’s former personal assistant Sibongile Moyi, 49, and Cwenga Songelwa, 41, a former PA to deputy minister Zoleka Capa, appeared in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on charges of fraud and contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act.

The court heard that Nelani and Pakade had submitted representations to acting director of public prosecutions advocate Samkelo Mtwana, asking that the charges against them be withdrawn. The matter was postponed to August 24 pending the acting director’s decision. NPA regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said: “They have made representations.

We will issue a statement when the matter is finalised.” The five accused were served with summonses in June after the Hawks concluded their initial investigation into the municipality’s funding of Nelani’s trip to KwaZulu-Natal in January 2024. Nelani, who initially requested that he be placed on special leave, resigned as KSD mayor in early July. Pakade continues to serve as municipal manager.

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Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana previously said the accused had allegedly falsely claimed that Nelani had received an official invitation to attend a government back-to-school programme to justify the municipality-funded trip. He said investigators alleged the event was in fact an ANC manifesto rally and not an official government programme. “It is further alleged that, following a telephonic request, an invitation letter bearing what is suspected to be the forged signature of the deputy minister was generated and transmitted.

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