Katlego Moeng
THREE people, including Kaizer Chiefs manager Bobby Motaung, were arrested yesterday on allegations of fraud, forgery and theft in relation to the construction of the Mbombela Stadium near Nelspruit.
Hawks spokesman Colonel McIntosh Polela said: "I can confirm one man was arrested in Naturena and another in Cape Town.”
A third man reportedly handed himself over to the police in Nelspruit last night.
A reliable source confirmed that the man arrested in the southern Johannesburg suburb was indeed Motaung.
The arrests come eight months after the Mbombela Municipality abandoned its investigation into allegations of corruption against Motaung and his business associates relating to the construction of the R1.2-billion World Cup stadium.
Polela said: "The forgery charge entails their company submitting a forged South African Revenue Services document when applying for the Mbombela tender.”
Motaung was the executive director of construction company Lefika Emerging Equity, which was awarded the tender to build the stadium.
Forensic investigations later showed that Lefika had received an alleged irregular payment of R43- million. Former World Cup coordinator Differ Mogale allegedly approved the payments without authorisation.
Former Mbombela municipal manager Jacob Dladla was let off the hook in court after challenging his 2009 dismissal because of his involvement in awarding the tender to Motaung’s company.
Mbombela’s municipal speaker, Jimmy Mohlala, who blew the whistle on the alleged corruption and was due to testify against Dladla, was killed at his home in January 2009.
Polela said the three men would appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court today.
"This is the conclusion of the first phase of our investigations. There may be more arrests.”
