Ex-Phokwane municipal manager guilty of fraud after increasing her own salary

A FORMER municipal manager has been convicted on fraud and financial misconduct charges after a Hawks investigation uncovered unlawful salary adjustments and irregular allowances that cost the Phokwane Local Municipality significant public funds.

Northern Cape Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Tebogo Thebe confirmed that Advocate Matshidiso Cordelia, 53, was found guilty in the Kimberley Serious Commercial Crimes Court on charges of fraud and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.

Cordelia was serving as the municipal manager of Phokwane Municipality, based in Hartswater, during 2018 when the offences were committed.

The court heard that while in office, Cordelia unlawfully instructed the municipal payroll accountant to process car and travel allowance payments for 13 employees without following prescribed procedures. These payments were authorised despite a moratorium imposed by the municipal council at the time.

In addition to approving unauthorised benefits for staff, Cordelia was found to have unlawfully increased her own remuneration package. She also implemented a 4% rural allowance without informing the municipal council or obtaining the required approval from the MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Chogsta) in the Northern Cape.

All of the increases were backdated to July 2017, resulting in substantial financial losses to the municipality.

The matter was pursued through the Hawks and culminated in Cordelia’s prosecution and eventual conviction.

The case has been postponed to April 8, 2026, for the submission of a pre-sentencing report and sentencing proceedings.