Cops arrest 'Mr Cash'

Former North West municipal manager Philemon Mapulane was finally arrested this week after allegations that he received massive kickbacks on government tenders.

Mapulane, known as "Mr Cash" for his preferred method of payment, is accused of receiving bribes of more than R1-million from at least two service providers to his municipality.

Mapulane was suspended by the Madibeng municipality last October. It covers the area of Hartbeespoort Dam, Brits, and the farming area of Sonop.

The municipality has faced service-delivery protests, and residents have refused to pay rates because their water quality, and other services, are so poor.

Elated residents said yesterday that other heads should roll. They also said the provincial ANC should also institute its own disciplinary process against "others" who worked with Mapulane.

"We now expect the ANC to act, Mapulane was an ANC comrade, he was not alone in looting our funds, We expect action," said an ANC member in Madibeng.

An audit of the municipality's capital expenditure showed gross mismanagement of project funds amounting to more than R100-million.

The audit included the municipal infrastructure grant, and the water affairs.

Co-operative governance ministry spokesman Vuyelwa Qinga-Vika said more arrests were expected and the police investigation will look at "everything" that happened in the municipality while Mapulane was in charge.

"This will not end with the former municipal manager, all those who took part in corruption will have to answer," she said.

The investigation of Mapulane include his failure to build a water reservoir and water purification plant, the irregular award of tenders including a R17-million training contract, and the incomplete construction of roads.

The Hawks arrested Mapulane and another believed to have corruptly benefited from municipal tenders on Tuesday. They raided three properties in Hartbeespoort Dam and Pretoria.

The department of co-operative governance said Mapulane's arrest came as a result of a series of investigations involving the Special Investigating Unit, police, and private investigators. The department called on service providers who paid bribes to acquire tenders from the municipality to come forward with information in exchange for indemnity.