Staff reporter
Phuthaditjhaba – The Hawks have arrested a Maluti-A-Phofung Local Municipality law enforcement officer who serves as a close protector to Municipal Manager Advocate Mzwakhe Mofokeng for allegedly possessing firearms and ammunition illegally.
The latest arrest adds to a growing list of controversies surrounding Lejwe Mofokeng. In March this year, Step Up SA reported that he had been arrested after allegedly pointing a firearm at a colleague during working hours at municipal offices.
His employment at the municipality has also drawn scrutiny due to a 2020 fraud conviction stemming from the use of a fraudulent matric certificate, raising fresh questions about how he was appointed to a law enforcement position and allowed access to municipal resources.
According to the Hawks, members of the Bethlehem Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit received information that the 51-year-old was allegedly in possession of firearms unlawfully.
Investigators, accompanied by the Tactical Response Team (TRT), swooped on the Phuthaditjhaba New Hall where the municipal manager was scheduled to hold a meeting. During a search, a firearm and ammunition were allegedly found in Mofokeng’s possession.
The operation was later extended to his residence where another firearm, magazines and ammunition were allegedly recovered.
Hawks investigations further revealed that the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court declared Mofokeng unfit to possess a firearm in July 2021. Investigators also established that he was allegedly in possession of firearms without the prescribed competency certificate.
This is the question we asked the Investigating Officer and we also asked if the firearm related to the other case was taken for ballistics. It was not even taken allegedly.
MAP is a hub for fired police officials.
Mofokeng appeared in the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrates Court on Friday on charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition as well as contravention of the Firearms Control Act.
The arrest is expected to intensify scrutiny on the municipality and its hiring practices, particularly given Mofokeng’s previous fraud conviction and earlier arrest involving a firearm.
Free State Hawks Provincial Head Major General Mokgadi Bokaba commended investigators and operational members for their swift response.
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