Former eMadlangeni mayor arrested over R2 million mall feasibility study

Staff Reporter

A former mayor of KwaZulu-Natal’s eMadlangeni Local Municipality and an alleged accomplice have been arrested over the payment of more than R2 million for a mall feasibility study that was never conducted.

The Hawks’ Durban Serious Corruption Investigation unit arrested former mayor Lindile Mhlungu, 42, and Musawenkosi Thwala, 52, in Utrecht on Tuesday.

The pair face charges of fraud, corruption and contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act.

KZN Police said Mhlungu introduced a service provider to the municipality in July 2019 to make a presentation about a proposed feasibility study for the development of a mall in Utrecht.

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She allegedly instructed the municipality’s former municipal manager to appoint the service provider.

“The Municipal Manager allegedly complied with her instruction and proper Supply Chain Management processes were not followed,” police said in a statement on Wednesday.

A few weeks later, the service provider submitted an invoice for R2,014,250 to the municipality. A purchase order was allegedly created and the company was paid.

“However, it is alleged that no work was done and the matter was reported to the Hawks members for thorough investigation,” police said.

The Hawks said its members worked with the National Prosecuting Authority before arresting Mhlungu and Thwala.

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The two appeared briefly in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court following their arrests and were released on bail.

Mhlungu was granted bail of R10,000, while Thwala was released on bail of R2,000.

The case was postponed to 1 September.

“More arrests are expected,” police said.

KwaZulu-Natal acting provincial police head Brigadier Zenobia Mulligan welcomed the arrests and praised investigators for their work.

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