By Montsho Matlala
Polokwane: The Polokwane Municipality, the Provincial Capital of Limpopo, has dismissed reports that the Hawks’ presence at its offices this week was a raid, insisting it was a scheduled visit.
The incident, which unfolded on Wednesday when Hawks investigators collected documents from the municipality, sparked speculation in the public domain.
Some media outlets and members of the public claimed the elite crime-fighting unit was targeting Executive Mayor Makoro John Mpe over alleged tender irregularities worth a combined R724 million.
In a statement on Thursday, the municipality strongly rejected the notion that the Hawks’ presence constituted a raid or was linked to corruption allegations surrounding tenders.
“Equally, it is incorrect to attempt to draw the executive mayor, Cllr Makoro John Mpe, into the matter.
The Executive Mayor’s office was neither visited nor subjected to any request from the Hawks. At no point have the Hawks sought information from or about the mayor,” said municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala.
The municipality, however, conceded that investigators collected certain documents during the visit.
“It must be emphasised that the municipality itself prepared the documents in question. The municipality has proactively opened cases relating to material irregularities in the past, and once these cases are concluded, the findings will be communicated transparently to the public,” the statement read.
Selala added that the municipality would continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies and respect the investigative process.
Meanwhile, whistle-blowers and opposition parties, including the EFF and DA, have called for further police investigation into allegations that Mpe and municipal manager Thuso Nemugumoni were involved in multimillion-rand tender irregularities for personal gain.
Earlier, Mpe challenged anyone making corruption claims against him or the municipality to provide evidence to law enforcement authorities.
