-Staff Writer | Fri, 5 Dec 2025
The North West police have busted an alleged municipal job-selling syndicate operating inside the troubled Klerksdorp-based Matlosana Local Municipality, arresting five suspects.
The suspects that were nabbed by the police includes municipal officials who allegedly extorted desperate jobseekers by demanding R10 000 for fake employment contracts.
According to the provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, the arrests followed a complaint lodged with the municipality after several residents reported that they were made to pay the hefty fee for contracts supposedly issued on 17 November, only to later discover there were no jobs.
Mokgwabone said the Provincial Organised Crime members launched an urgent investigation on Tuesday, 2 December.
Their probe quickly identified two municipal officials and two additional suspects believed to be central to the scheme. All four were arrested.
Two of the suspects were apprehended on Anderson Street, where police found them in possession of four completed municipal employment application forms bearing the city’s logo. Police also seized a blue Toyota Corolla allegedly used in the fraudulent operation.
“The accused Paul Itumeleng (60), Tuelo Molekane (40), Simon Sethabela (50) and Thabo Kgafane (32) appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 4 December, on charges of fraud, corruption and impersonating municipal officers. They were remanded in custody and will return to court on Wednesday, 10 December. A fifth suspect, a 44-year-old municipal employee, was arrested on Thursday and is expected to appear in court today on Friday, 05 December 2025, ” he said.
Meanwhile, the Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo, praised the investigative team and senior municipal officials for swiftly uncovering the operation.
“The suspects were apparently going to continue exploiting unsuspecting jobseekers. Their arrest is welcomed,” he said.
The municipality has since welcomed the arrest of these individuals. Municipal spokesperson, Ntswaki Makgetha, said the municipality reaffirms its commitment to ethical conduct, clean governance, and zero tolerance toward corruption.
She also said that an internal disciplinary processes will run concurrently with the ongoing criminal investigation.
“The City encourages residents and employees to continue reporting any form of unethical behaviour through the established whistle-blowing channels to ensure accountability and uphold the integrity of public service. The municipality will never ask any individual to pay money or any form of compensation in exchange for employment,” she said.
Members of the public have also been urged not to make any payments to individuals claiming to offer employment on behalf of the municipality.
” Any such requests should be treated as a scam and reported immediately to the relevant municipal offices or local law enforcement authorities.The municipality will not be held liable for any loss suffered as a result of engaging with fraudsters outside official recruitment channels, ” Makgetha added.
News Junction (Gold Standard)