Hawks Strike Polokwane Municipality with Corruption Raid: A Bold Move Unfolds Amidst Allegations Against Top Officials

Hawks at Polokwane Municipality...

By Mpho Dube-Editor in Chief

In a seismic shift shaking Limpopo's political foundations, the Hawks have executed a daring search and seizure operation at Polokwane Municipality offices, plunging the local governance sphere into intense scrutiny.

This brazen move signals an escalating probe into grave corruption allegations encircling Executive Mayor John Mpe and Municipal Manager Thuso Nemugumoni, pointedly accused of reaping millions of rand from suspect tender awards doled out by the municipality – a matter now thrust into the unforgiving glare of law enforcement.

Armed with a Polokwane High Court order, Hawks investigators methodically combed through municipal premises, engaging officials and legal representatives alike as they commandeered documents pivotal to their corruption inquiry.

Polokwane Municipality spokesperson Thipa Selala left no ambiguity about the institution's stance, underscoring cooperation with authorities. "The municipality will continue to cooperate with law enforcement agencies," Selala affirmed, disclosing documents were duly surrendered pursuant to the Hawks' legitimate pursuit of evidence.

The firestorm of allegations against Mpe and Nemugumoni has galvanized political parties into sharp reaction mode. DA Caucus Finance spokesperson Jacques Jourbert welcomed the probe unreservedly. "We welcome any investigation and hope for full cooperation with the Hawks," Jourbert remarked, reflecting opposition appetite for accountability. Lawrence Mapoulo, EFF Limpopo Chairperson, harmonized this sentiment, opining, "One would like us to give the Hawks their time so they can do their work," an endorsement positioning the pursuit of graft as a collective imperative.

ANC Youth League President Collen Malatji has been forthright in demanding accountability. "Anyone caught participating in corrupt activities must face the full might of the law. Law enforcement agencies must act urgently and decisively," Malatji stated in an interview with IOL, underscoring the ANCYL's stance on rooting out corruption besmirching Polokwane's governance reputation.

Malatji emphasized that unity in Limpopo – a historically significant ANC base – hinges on discipline and accountability. "Limpopo is a special province. The ANC must protect it with everything we have, and that begins with rooting out corruption from within our own ranks," he said. Malatji also stressed intra-party discipline, stating, "We cannot allow members to insult each other publicly. Those who do must face disciplinary action."

Polokwane Municipality's financial maneuvers have previously courted controversy, none more jarring than its R349m foray into the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank – a transaction entangled in labyrinthine corruption investigations now touching rarefied figures like Justice Minister Thembi Simelane, Polokwane's erstwhile executive mayor. Simelane's ties, including a contentious R575,600 'loan' from VBS-affiliated Gundo Wealth Solutions, remain under withering scrutiny, emblematic of the high-stakes accountability theatre playing out in South Africa's public domain.

Allegations against Mpe aren't new; about two months ago, The Azanian reported on claims of nepotism and corruption threatening Mpe's reign. A social media post alleged Municipal Manager Thuso Nemugumoni's romantic partner's company was improperly awarded a R56.3 million tender, fueling controversy over the municipality's decision-making integrity.

Mpe vehemently denied these allegations during a press conference, branding them a political witch hunt. Critics, however, point to patterns of concern – including Mpe's defense of awarding tenders to foreign-owned companies and controversy over permanent employment decisions bypassing council engagement.

Opposition stalwarts and civil society orbit this development with hawkish vigilance, clamoring for redress. ActionSA Limpopo Chairperson Victor Mothemela lauded the Hawks' intervention, pressing for a "swift, thorough, and impartial investigation". The DA has raised concerns about political interference in Polokwane Municipality's Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) recruitment, calling for transparency in criteria and oversight mechanisms.

As the Hawks guard specifics of seized documentation with characteristic discretion, Polokwane's residents – and indeed the broader South African public – await consequential outcomes with bated breath. This episode crystallizes the nation's relentless grapple with corruption, spotlighting local municipalities as crucibles where governance transparency will determine the trajectory of public trust. The Azanian remains unwavering in its mission to illuminate this pivotal narrative, committed to delivering piercing insights into the forces recalibrating our national mosaic.