Civic association SANCO in the North West says it hopes Thursday’s raid at the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in Mahikeng will see those alleged to be involved in corruption at the municipality held accountable.

This comes as the national police’s cold case investigators and the Special Task Force unit closed the gates of the municipal building and conducted a search today.

SANCO earlier led a march to the District Municipality and handed over a memorandum of grievances alleging tender irregularities and poor service delivery.

SANCO regional secretary Riider Mofokeng says, “There were lots and lots of complaints from the business sector of our local and business people. They were telling us, as SANCO, to say that they are not getting any opportunities here. and even though they submit their business proposals, wanting to get business opportunities. But they could not get that, and they were just told that. You will get, you will get. But they don’t get. The only thing that was even surprising to them most of the business opportunities that are given to them in terms of their localities. There were the people who were foreign to them.”

Police say their operation at the Municipality relates to ongoing fraud and corruption investigations. They reportedly targeted the offices of the Executive Mayor, Municipal Manager, and the Chief Financial Officer, amongst others.

National Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe explains, “The operations led by the SAPS national cold case investigators and special task force members relate to search and seizure operations. It’s about allegations of ongoing investigations of corruption, fraud, and maladministration in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality. This is just a first phase of many operations to come on addressing these allegations. The investigations are at an advanced and sensitive stage.”