The Chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) in the City of Matlosana is expected to be appointed in the next council meeting to be held on November 28. This as the city has been operating without an MPAC chairperson for the past two months, and members of the committee are not able to convene their meetings within the municipality without the chairperson.
This follows the public arrest of MPAC chairperson Merriam Methi for alleged corruption on August 23. Methi was arrested together with her son Tshegofatso Mosiako by the members of the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation team in Klerksdorp, following an arranged entrapment to catch them in the act of committing an offence.
According to the Hawks', Methi met with the complainant, where she allegedly introduced herself as the Chairperson of MPAC in the City of Matlosana Local Municipality. The complainant allegedly told her that he had trucks that could be utilized for refuse removal and for her to inform him when tenders are advertised by the municipality for him to bid, and she allegedly obliged.
Reports by the Hawks indicate that in March 2023, the suspect reportedly met with the complainant, where she told him that his business partner was awarded a tender by the municipality to collect refuse. It is further alleged that she told the complainant that she knows he has rented his trucks to his business partner and is also benefiting from the tender.
The complainant was allegedly given an ultimatum to pay the suspect an amount of R50 000; failure to do so will result in the contract being cancelled with no chance of renewal. Members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team received information about the payment arrangement, which the suspect had reached with the complainant.
The two were arrested soon after being paid R30 000 in cash by the complainant. After their arrest, Methi, who was granted R15 000 bail and her son R1 000 bail, made their second court appearance in the Klerksdorp Magistrate's Court last week Thursday. Their case has been postponed to January 22 next year for further investigations.
