Ten municipal officials were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly stealing R28-million intended for rural development in Mount Ayliff in the Eastern Cape, police said.
”They were arrested at their place of work after a special police investigation,” said Superintendent Mzukisi Fatyela.
The money was given to the Alfred Nzo municipality for rural development in the area, which included the building of toilets.
”The money was given to them in different amounts since 2005. Most of the money was being pocketed, and only a small amount was being used for the development,” he said.
He said that instead of developing skills within the rural communities, relatives were called in to work and were being paid by certain officials.
During the arrest, police also confiscated four laptops.
He said the assets of the 10 officials would be checked on Wednesday to determine if any of the money could be recovered.
”We are expecting more arrests, there are definitely more people involved in this.”
They would appear in court soon, Fatyela said. — Sapa