Maquassi Hills Local Municipality has been plunged into fresh turmoil after criminal charges were laid against Municipal Manager Thuli (Nokuthula) Mbonani over alleged financial misconduct, dereliction of duty and failures to safeguard public funds.
The charges were opened at the Wolmaransstad police station on Thursday, 20 August, by Percy Mokgabi, the municipality’s former Director for Community Services.
According to affidavits submitted by Mokgabi, the allegations against Mbonani include violations of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), material dereliction of her statutory duties and perjury. At the centre of the complaint is the alleged continued payment of a municipal salary to former councillor Sello Moraka.
Mokgabi alleges that Moraka was expelled by an ad hoc committee in April 2026 after being found guilty of fraud. The allegation concerned claims that Moraka falsely represented himself as a resident of Maquassi Hills while allegedly living in Rustenburg, where he is employed in the mining sector.
Despite allegedly being served with the expulsion decision, Mbonani is accused of continuing to authorise monthly remuneration to Moraka.
“We’ve got a Municipal Manager in the name of Thuli Judith Mbonani who is grossly failing in her responsibilities,” Mokgabi said.
He further alleged that Moraka continued receiving a salary while participating in what he described as fictitious council meetings in Maquassi Hills.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and Mbonani has not been charged or convicted of any offence.
R10 million fuel controversy, the latest criminal complaint also centres on a forensic investigation into alleged irregularities in the municipality’s fleet and fuel-card management.
An investigation by Phambane Mokone Incorporated Attorneys reportedly identified more than R7 million in irregular and potentially fraudulent fuel-card transactions between January 2022 and September 2023. Subsequent estimates have put the total value of the alleged fuel irregularities at approximately R10 million.
The investigation reportedly found that municipal fuel cards were used to purchase fuel for private vehicles belonging to councillors and their associates.
Several municipal officials were subsequently subjected to disciplinary proceedings, with findings of wrongdoing reported against officials including the former fleet officer, an acting chief financial officer who also served as asset manager, a former asset accountant and a municipal driver.
Mokgabi alleges that, despite the findings, Mbonani failed to take adequate steps to recover public money or ensure that those responsible faced appropriate legal consequences.
He also claims that the forensic report warned the municipality against relying on a local Total service station as a primary procurement point for municipal diesel and fuel, but alleges that the practice continued.
Calling for accountability, Mokgabi has accused the municipal manager of failing to fulfil her responsibilities under the MFMA and of allowing weaknesses in financial controls to persist.
“There were people who were suspended; those people are back at work. But key to it, she failed to protect the public funds,” he alleged.
The allegations come months after disciplinary action against municipal officials following the fuel-card investigation, adding further pressure on the municipality to account for its financial-management systems.
Mbonani was approached for comment but did not immediately respond substantively to the allegations. In a message to City Report, she said she was dealing with a family bereavement and requested an opportunity to respond later.
The criminal complaints are now expected to be investigated by the South African Police Service. Any findings of wrongdoing will ultimately depend on the outcome of the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.
The municipality and Mbonani have not been found guilty of the allegations contained in the complaint.
