Kamiesberg municipal employees and company Directors in the dock for fraud, corruption and money laundering

Boipelo Mere

BSP Consulting Engineers Directors, along with Kamiesberg Local Municipal officials made a brief appearance before Garies Magistrates Court on 19 March 2026 on charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering.

The Directors, Bevan Steyn(55) and Bradley Plaatjies(50), together with the Municipal Manager(MM) Rufus Beukes(42), Speaker Melvin Cloete(50), Senior Accountant Rose Cloete (43), Personal Assistant Melishia Nero (37), Cleaner Fianna Fortuin(41) of Kamiesberg Municipality, Garies and Aniston Fielding were arrested on the same day by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team.

After a thorough investigation by the Hawks on allegations made by a complainant pertaining to kickbacks and corruption taking place at Kamiesberg Local Municipality.

It is alleged that during November 2024, BSP Consultant Engineers submitted a fraudulent invoice to Kamiesberg Local Municipality for work that was not done and paid R216 284-66.

The Hawks Spokesperson, Warrant Officer Nomthandazo Mnisi said it is further alleged that R75 000 was paid to Fielding’s Capitec bank account, then the funds were distributed to different bank accounts that belonged to employees of Kamiesberg Local Municipality.

Styne and Plaatjies were released on R10 000 bail each, while Cloete, Fielding, Nero, Fortuin were released on R1 000 bail each. Melvin Cloete received R20 000 while Beukes received R5 000 bail.

The matter against all accused is postponed to Thursday, 23 April 2026 to the Springbok Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.

On a separate but related matter, the Hawks arrested Harold Meyer (50) from Van Kay General Dealer; and a Fleet Manager from Namakwa District Municipality in Springbok.

Minisi said Municipal Manager Rufus Beukes (42) and the Speaker Melvin Cloete (50) from Kamiesberg local Municipality, were also implicated for alleged fraud, corruption and money laundering.

Allegations are that Kammiesberg local Municipality procured two water pumps from Van Kay General Dealer on two separate occasions to an amount of R128 500-00 and R147 268-00, which were never delivered to the Municipality.

It is further alleged that Beukes as the Municipality Manager, authorised the payments, fully aware that the water pumps were not delivered.

A total amount paid to Van Kay General Dealer is R275 768-00.

They appeared at the same Garies Magistrates Court where Meyer was released on R5 000 bail while Beukus and Cloete were released on warning.

The case was postponed to 23 April 2026 at the Springbok Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.