–Staff Writer / Thurs, 19 March 2026
Shock and disbelief hit the small town of Garies in the Northern Cape as top municipal officials, company bosses and even a cleaner who found themselves in hot water over alleged fraud, corruption and money laundering.
A group of accused, including bosses from BSP Consulting Engineers and officials from Kamiesberg Local Municipality, appeared briefly at the Garies Magistrates Court on Thursday, 19 March 2026.
Among those in the dock were company directors Bevan Steyn (55) and Bradley Plaatjies (50), Municipal Manager Rufus Beukes (42), Speaker Melvin Cloete (50), Senior Accountant Rose Cloete (43), PA Melishia Nero (37), cleaner Fianna Fortuin (41), and Aniston Fielding (22).
The arrests were carried out earlier the same day by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team following a probe into allegations of kickbacks and dodgy dealings at the municipality.
WHAT HAPPENED?
According to investigators, in November 2024, BSP Consulting Engineers allegedly submitted a fake invoice for work that was never done – and still got paid a whopping R216 284!
Cops claim the money trail didn’t stop there.
It is alleged that R75 000 was paid into Fielding’s Capitec account and then distributed to various accounts linked to municipal employees – raising serious red flags.
BAIL SHOCKER!
Some of the accused were granted bail, with Steyn and Plaatjies each paying R10 000.
Others, including Nero, Fortuin and Fielding, walked free on R1 000 bail, while Speaker Cloete paid R20 000 and Beukes R5 000.
The case has been postponed to 23 April 2026 and will move to the Springbok Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
SECOND SCANDAL EXPLODES!
In a separate but related case, the Hawks also arrested Harold Meyer (50), linked to Van Kay General Dealer and also a fleet manager at Namakwa District Municipality.
Beukes and Cloete were again implicated.
It is alleged the municipality paid over R275 000 for two water pumps that were never delivered!
Investigators claim Beukes authorised the payments despite knowing the pumps never arrived.
Meyer was granted R5 000 bail, while Beukes and Cloete were released on warning.
This matter was also postponed to 23 April 2026.
LONG ARM OF THE LAW
The Hawks say investigations are ongoing and more arrests could follow as they clamp down on corruption in municipalities.
News Junction (Gold Standard)