Key Points:
- Abbey Dlavane sentenced to five years for R550,000 municipal theft.
- Investigations confirmed he bypassed municipal procedures to steal public funds.
- Authorities praised the ruling as a strong move against public corruption.
Dlavane sentenced for theft and municipal violations
KLERKSDORP, South Africa — Abbey Dlavane, the former municipal manager of Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, received a sentence Friday of five years in prison for theft and violating the Municipal Finance Management Act.
Dlavane, 61, appeared before the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on charges that stemmed from incidents during his tenure. His time in office lasted from January 2009 to March 2010. In a joint statement, Warrant Officer Amogelang Malwetse of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, said Dlavane abused his position to misappropriate municipal funds.
“He allegedly instructed the credit controller to issue a cheque amounting to R550,000 to Kumekucha Investment for services not rendered to the municipality,” Malwetse said.
Investigation reveals misuse of municipal processes
Afterward, authorities transferred the case to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in Klerksdorp for further inquiry. Investigators discovered that Dlavane was the sole member of Kumekucha Investment. This was the company that fraudulently received the payment.
Besides that, investigators revealed that Dlavane authorized the payment without following the mandatory municipal supply chain management policy. This policy requires a competitive bidding process. “It was further established that the accused failed to follow proper municipal supply chain management policy processes,” Malwetse added. “This resulted in the municipality suffering a loss worth R550,000.”
Furthermore, in addition to his five-year sentence for theft, Dlavane received a three-year sentence for contravening Section 173 (1)(a) of the MFMA. However, the court wholly suspended the three-year sentence for five years. The suspension depends on him not committing a similar offense during that period.
Authorities welcome sentencing as a warning to officials
Brigadier Georgia Moos, acting North West head of the Hawks, and Dr. Rachel Makhari, Director of Public Prosecutions in the province, welcomed the sentencing. They commended the investigation and prosecution teams for their dedication. They said the teams worked tirelessly to root out corruption within municipalities.
“This verdict sends a clear message to all public officials that corruption will not go unpunished,” said Moos. “Public servants must act with integrity and accountability to protect public resources.”
Authorities emphasized that the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District official sentenced will serve as a strong reminder of the consequences of public corruption. Moreover, they believe the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District official sentenced verdict reinforces efforts to promote ethical governance across municipalities.
