R25 Million Down the Drain: Hawks Net Two More in Bojanala Fraud Scandal

Rustenburg – What began as a single arrest has now snowballed into a full-scale takedown of a multimillion-rand corruption network allegedly operating within the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality. On Monday, 7 April 2025, two more suspects – a married couple and directors of two separate companies – were arrested and appeared before the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court.

Esther Malesa (45), director of Kea’s Project, and Moses Malesa (53), director of Marole Nameng Trading Enterprise, now join five others in a case that has rocked the North West’s municipal landscape. The pair were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team and granted bail – R100 000 for Esther, and R50 000 for Moses.

This brings the accused count to seven, following last month’s arrests in connection with the R25 million allegedly siphoned from the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality between December 2018 and May 2019.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) communications officer Sivenathi Gunya, and the Hawks’ lieutenant colonel Tinyiko Mathebula, the scheme centred around fraudulent invoices and unauthorised payments to companies not officially registered as municipal service providers.

The alleged mastermind, former CFO Leslina Olga Ndlovu (45), is accused of working with Esther Malesa to channel massive municipal payments to Kea’s Project using the credentials of a registered service provider. Investigators discovered that while Kea’s Project received over R25 million, the funds were distributed across several individuals and entities.

Who Got What?

• Mahle Supply (Ndlovu’s company) – R2 million
• Patrick Tlhapi (former Chief Whip) – R150,000
• Gontse Kekana (secretary to ex-municipal manager) – R850,000
• Moremi Investments (run by Mantsho Gloria Moremi) – R600,000
• Moses Malesa – over R5 million

Esther Malesa now faces a staggering 53 counts of fraud, 84 counts of money laundering, and three counts of corruption, while her husband Moses faces seven counts of money laundering. All seven accused are currently out on bail. The case has been postponed to 2 July 2025 for further investigation. The acting North West provincial head of the Hawks, brigadier Silas Munzhedzi, and Dr Rachel Makhari, director of Public Prosecutions, praised the strong collaboration between the NPA and the Hawks, stating it reflects a committed drive toward rooting out corruption and ensuring public funds are safeguarded.

Photo: Justice in motion – Hawks officers move in as another chapter unfolds in the Bojanala R25 million fraud investigation.