A swift response by the Provincial Organised Crime Unit has led to the arrest of five individuals, including municipal officials, in connection with an employment scam targeting job seekers.
The unit acted on a complaint received from the City of Matlosana Local Municipality on Tuesday, 02 December 2025. The complaint concerned individuals who reported signing employment contracts on Monday, 17 November 2025, on the condition that they each paid a R10,000 fee. After making the payment, the promised employment never materialised.
A preliminary investigation swiftly revealed the involvement of two municipal officials and two other persons. The municipal officials were identified and taken into custody. In a related operation, two male suspects were arrested on Anderson Street. At the time of their arrest, they were found in possession of four completed employment application forms bearing the municipal logo. Their vehicle, a blue Toyota Corolla, was confiscated.
The four accused—Paul Itumeleng (60), Tuelo Molekane (40), Simon Sethabela (50), and Thabo Kgafane (32)—made their first appearance at the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 04 December 2025. They face charges of fraud, corruption, and impersonating municipal officers. The court remanded all four in custody for further investigation, with their case postponed to Wednesday, 10 December 2025.
A fifth suspect, a 44-year-old man reported to be employed at the municipality, was arrested separately in Klerksdorp on Thursday, 04 December 2025. He is expected to appear in court today.