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Court denies bail to Mogalakwena municipal manager Morris Maluleke

Published

The Mokopane magistrate's court refused bail on Tuesday after the state opposed it. Maluleke, 43, faces fraud, corruption and money laundering charges linked to a municipal fleet contract. The case was postponed to 3 November for further investigation.

The state said Maluleke may interfere with witnesses and ongoing investigations. It argued that his release on bail would not be in the interests of justice at this stage. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mashudu Malabi in Limpopo spoke about the case.

The state said Maluleke first approved a fleet contract worth about R4m. It said he later authorised payments totalling R24m, which allegedly caused a substantial financial loss to the municipality. It also said he irregularly awarded a R24m fleet tender to Fleetmove (Pty) Ltd in December 2022, without following supply chain management processes.

Malabi said payments began in January 2023. She said services were only rendered between April and May 2023, after the municipality's legal division threatened to end the contract. The state said R230,000 in payments were kickbacks paid into an account linked to Maluleke, through a company of which he is sole director. His company, Bona Cord Vulstasie, was arrested together with him.

Key facts

Who
Morris Maluleke (Mogalakwena municipal manager, 43, accused in the fleet contract case); Mashudu Malabi (National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson in Limpopo); Fleetmove (Pty) Ltd (company awarded the R24m fleet tender); Bona Cord Vulstasie (company of Maluleke, arrested together with him)
What
The Mokopane magistrate's court refused bail to Mogalakwena municipal manager Morris Maluleke, after the state opposed the application. The case was postponed to November 3 for further investigation.
When
27 October 2026
Where
Mokopane, Mogalakwena, Limpopo
Status
Reported

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