WESTERN CAPE- Christopher Philip Taute (62) municipal councillor and Claudio Conradie (36) field worker at McGregor Municipality were yesterday, 7th March 2023 arrested on a warrant for alleged fraud and corruption and consequently appeared in the Riversdale Magistrate Court.
The duo was apprehended following a lengthy investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team. It is reported that Conradie, had been appointed by the municipality to recruit candidates for an internship on skills development.
The candidates based in Riversdale and Still Bay were at that time given the stipend of R4500.
It was alleged that Conradie, instructed the candidates to pay R1500 from the stipend to the account number belonging to the Councillor. Some candidates complied with the instructions and paid up to an amount of R35 000 into Taute's account.
One of the employees was also instructed to pay money into the same account for being employed by implementing entity but the employee refused to comply with such an instruction and was then fired as a results on non – compliance.
The matter against the duo was postponed to the 12 April 2023 after they were granted R10 000 bail each.