Ghost workers: Makana municipality employee and accomplices arrested

Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, the Provincial Head, commended the conviction of Kwanele Ernest Mbangi (42) and his accomplices, Nohlane Mlonyeni (48) and Kutala Gabavana (43) for counts of fraud and money laundering by the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on March 17, 2022.

Between April 2014 and February 2015, Mbangi employed ‘ghost workers’ by completing and submitting fraudulent employment contracts, attendance registers and submitting attendance registers to the municipality paymaster.

The wages were paid to the accounts of his accomplices, Mlonyeni and Gabavana and receiving benefits thereof.

During auditing, discrepancies were discovered and the matter was reported to the Gqeberha Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team of the Hawks for investigation which resulted in the arrest of the trio on 13 May 2016.

The investigation revealed that Makana Municipality was prejudiced cash of more than R31 000 during the orchestrated transactions.

The trio appeared in court on the very same day of their arrest and were released on warning. After a series of court appearances, they were convicted on 17 March 2022. The sentencing is set for 21 June 2022.