By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Free State social development MEC Motshidise Agnes was granted bail, together with her two co-accused, in the fraud and corruption case.
They appeared in the Kroonstad magistrate’s court on Friday.
Koloi, 52, chief director in the Free State human settlements department Vusumuzi Rajuili, 54, and political adviser to Matjhabeng mayor Serake Joseph Leeuw, 62, were charged with fraud, corruption, money laundering and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
They were arrested on Thursday afternoon by members of the Hawk’s Serious Corruption Investigation unit based in Bloemfontein.
The matter emanates from a 2017 incident when the MEC was still the Executive Mayor.
It is alleged that the three suspects colluded to take over R150 000 belonging to Moqhaka Local Municipality, under the guise that the money would be spent on a sound system to be used during a Nelson Mandela memorial lecture.
The event never took place, despite money having been transacted out of the municipal bank account.
Free State Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Major General Mokgadi Bokaba has applauded investigators working on the case for their hard work, which led to the court issuing warrants of arrest.
She encouraged them to pursue all matters they are investigating with vigour.
Last month, the NPA assessed the docket and evidence before court and issued warrants of arrest.
Koloi and Rajuili were released on bail of R10,000 each and Leeuw was granted bail of R5,000.