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Former Director of Community Services has opened a case against Municipal Manager over graft allegations



Wolmaransstad - The former Maquassi Hills Director of Community Services, Percy Mokgabi has laid charges against the current Municipal Manager, Thulile Mbonani over a R10 million fuel fraud and non-existent councillor payments on Thursday, 20 August 2026 at the Wolmaransstad Police Station 

Mokgabi alleges that Mbonani knew about these graft acts despite being made aware. In his affidavits, the former director cites violations of Municipal Finance Management Act and perjury 

The laying of criminal charges against Mbonani, puts the municipality into disrepute over financial mismanagement and maladmistration. Mbonani has been at the helm of a recent scandal over unpaid pension funds of the municipal employees who demanded her immediate resignation 


According to Mokgabi, there has been unabated payments of former councillor, Sello Moraka who was expelled by the Ad Hoc Committee in April this year following being found guilty of fraud
 
Mokgabi’s report alleges that, Moraka falsely claimed a residency in Maquassi Hills while living in Rustenburg on full-time basis

Even though Mbonani was officially informed with the matter, she continued to make payments to Moraka's account on a monthly basis 
 
"We’ve got a Municipal Manager in the name of Thuli Judith Mbonani who is grossly failing in her responsibilities, there is material dereliction of duties on her part, in gross violation of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA)... Moraka is enjoying a salary every month and illegally participating in fictitious meetings of the council in Maquassi Hills" - Former Director of Community Services, Maquassi Hills Municipality, Percy Mokgabi  





Beyond the illegal councillor payments, Mbonani faces severe backlash for burying a forensic investigation that uncovered rampant corruption within the municipality's fleet management system 

An independent probe conducted by Phambane Mokone Incorporated Attorneys flagged more than R7 million in highly irregular and fraudulent fuel card transactions between January 2022 and September 2023. Total fuel irregularities have since ballooned to an estimated R10 million
 
The forensic investigation explicitly revealed that official municipal fuel cards were systematically abused to fill up the private vehicles of local councillors and their close associates.




While Mbonani allegedly failed to take decisive executive action, internal disciplinary hearings have already found several key officials guilty of the scam. Those implicated and disciplined include the then municipal Fleet Officer, the Acting Chief Financial Officer (who concurrently served as Asset Manager), a former Asset Accountant and a municipal Driver

“There were people who were suspended, those people are back at work. But key to it, she failed to protect the public funds” - Former Director of Community Services, Maquassi Hills Municipality, Percy Mokgabi  

Despite these internal findings, Mokgabi asserts that the Municipal Manager has criminally failed to fulfill her statutory obligations under the MFMA to recover the stolen public funds and ensure full legal accountability.



Mokgabi indicated that the forensic report explicitly cautioned Mbonani against utilizing a local Total garage as a primary procurement point for municipal diesel and fuel. Despite these clear warnings, Mbonani is allegedly continuing to bypass procurement protocols by using the facility.

Police investigations into the MFMA violations, perjury, and fraud charges are expected to commence swiftly in Wolmaransstad.

Mbonani could not respond to allegations made against her as she was facing family matter

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