Morris Maluleke denied bail in Mogalakwena fleet contract case

The Mokopane magistrate’s court has denied bail to Mogalakwena municipal manager Morris Maluleke.

Maluleke, 43, appeared in court on October 16 to apply for bail, which was opposed by the state.

“The state argued that Maluleke faces serious charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering. It further submitted that he may interfere with witnesses and ongoing investigations, and that his release on bail would not be in the interests of justice at this stage,” National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson in Limpopo Mashudu Malabi said.

The court upheld the state’s submissions and denied Maluleke bail, finding he failed to discharge, on a balance of probabilities, the onus to show that he should be granted bail.

Maluleke was arrested on October 7, together with his company, Bona Cord Vulstasie, in connection with allegations arising from a municipal fleet management contract.

The state alleges that Maluleke initially approved a fleet contract valued at about R4m and later authorised payments totalling R24m, allegedly resulting in a substantial financial loss to the municipality.

The state further alleges that, in December 2022, Maluleke irregularly awarded a R24m fleet tender to Fleetmove (Pty) Ltd without following the prescribed supply chain management processes.

“Although payments allegedly began in January 2023, services were only rendered between April and May 2023, after the municipality’s legal division threatened to terminate the contract,” Malabi said.

Malabi said the investigation also uncovered allegations that payments totalling R230,000, which the state believes were kickbacks, were made into an account linked to Maluleke through a company of which he is the sole director.

The case was postponed until November 3 for further investigation.