Police have outlined the charges brought against eight Eastern Cape municipal officials accused of fraud and corruption involving the theft of taxpayer money. The Executive Mayor of the Amathole District Municipality in the Eastern Cape‚ Nomasikizi Khonza‚ 53‚ was arrested for fraud and corruption by the Hawks and appeared at the East London Magistrate’s Court on Monday.Khonza and Nanziwe Rulashe‚ 36‚ the chairperson of the Municipal Public Account Committee at the same municipality and also the councillor of Nkonkobe Local Municipality‚ are alleged to have fraudulently authorised over R2.5 million to themselves under the guise that they were donating the money to support the annual Miss Amathole Heritage‚ but instead the two‚ together with Sigcinile Mabixane‚ 31‚ and Mawande Njeza‚ 30‚ are accused of pocketing the public’s funds‚ according to Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.The money‚ which the suspects had claimed that it would cover the costs for accommodation‚ gala dinner‚ marketing‚ venue hire and other logistics‚ was paid in two installments into separate bank accounts‚ one of which had Nanziwe Rulashe as a signatory‚ Mulaudzi said in a statement on Tuesday.“Investigations revealed that after each payment‚ Rulashe bought herself a car‚ making it two cars in one month.”Khonza was granted R15‚000 bail‚ while Rulashe was released on R10‚000. Saba and Njeza were released on R5‚000 each.Another four suspects accused of fraud and corruption in the Eastern Cape have also appeared before the East London Magistrate’s Court.The former Chief Executive Officer of the Amathole Economic Development Agency (ASPIRE) Ntombokuqala Nokulunga Mnqetha‚ 47‚ allegedly connived with a legal firm‚ Dyushu Majebe Attorneys‚ and settled her private legal bill amounting to R310‚000 using ASPIRE’s funds.The Acting CEO of ASPIRE‚ Thabo Shenxane‚ 41‚ was arrested for submitting an altered Counsel Resolution which authorised the payment‚ while Sandra Weppelman‚ 46‚ the Chief Financial Officer of ASPIRE‚ is in the dock for allegedly authorising the payment without following procurement procedures. The secretary of Dyushu Majebe Attorneys‚ Zamela Kiviet‚ 39‚ was also arrested on the basis that the company she represents benefited from the proceeds of crime.The quartet were released on R5‚000 bail each.The National Head of the Hawks‚ Lieutenant General Mthandazo Ntlemeza‚ said the time for corrupt public servants who rob needy residents of service delivery has come and gone. He said the claws are out for all who enrich themselves by embarking on fraudulent and corrupt activities.“Municipalities are entrusted with the delivery of services to the people but that mandate is being manipulated by greedy individuals who are looking for short-cuts to riches.“We have intensified our efforts to rid all municipalities‚ government departments and all public and private institutions of all corruption and fraudulent activities. Our people deserve better and the Hawks is here to bring hope to them‚” said Lieutenant General Ntlemeza.All eight suspects will be in the dock again on 8 July 2016.Earlier on Tuesday‚ the Daily Dispatch reported that the African National Congress’ (ANC) Amathole regional secretary‚ Thembalethu (Teris) Ntutu‚ accused the Hawks of “persecuting” Khonza‚ and vowed that the party would support her to the fullest.“We respect the process of the law and we will mobilise and make sure that they speed up their investigation‚ this is just a manipulation of state organs like the Hawks to persecute her‚” said Ntutu.Provincial Hawks head Major-General Nyameko Nogwanya rejected the claim and said: “We serve without fear or favour”.In January‚ finalists in the Miss Amathole Heritage 2015 beauty pageant went public to say they had not received their promised clothing vouchers and bursaries following the ceremony in October at the University of Fort Hare.The Dispatch reported then that the state-sponsored pageant’s promoter had used some of the pageant money to buy herself two vehicles – a Kia Sportage worth R190‚000 and a Ford Fiesta worth R80‚000...