MAKHADO — A Limpopo councillor initially detained for the attempted bribery of a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) official has been rearrested on separate charges of theft by false pretence. Netshivhumbe Gumani, a representative for the Thulamela Municipality, was taken into custody by local law enforcement on Monday shortly after his release on bail for the corruption-related offense.
Gumani was originally granted R10,000 bail at the Molopo Magistrate’s Court in Mahikeng regarding the bribery allegations. However, his freedom was short-lived as Makhado police executed an outstanding arrest warrant for theft by false pretence. According to the SIU, these new charges originate from accusations that the councillor solicited money from various local business owners. The funds were allegedly intended to bankroll political activities connected to a 2014 youth league conference held in the Sekhukhune District. He is scheduled to make his next court appearance on 18 September 2026.
The initial arrest stems from a high-stakes corruption probe involving municipal contracts in the Mahikeng Local Municipality. The anti-corruption body reports that Gumani allegedly tried to pay a senior SIU investigator R70,000 to obstruct justice and derail the ongoing inquiry. The councillor was reportedly acting as a middleman for Anacot Trading, a business linked to suspicious financial dealings regarding municipal contracts.
Investigators uncovered that a service provider, which was awarded two lease agreements by the Mahikeng Municipality, received approximately R179 million in public funds. Immediately following this payout, the service provider transferred R28 million to Anacot Trading, a company owned by Shahzaad Mohamed Hussein. When the SIU contacted Hussein to account for the R28 million transfer, he allegedly dispatched Gumani to interfere with the investigation’s outcome.
Leonard Lekgetho, the Acting Head of the SIU, confirmed the agency’s resolve to pursue the matter, emphasizing that the integrity of the judicial process remains uncompromised. Lekgetho stated that attempting to bribe an investigator constitutes a severe assault on South Africa’s justice system and its broader anti-corruption efforts. He assured the public that neither intimidation nor financial inducements will deter the agency from executing its mandate. Furthermore, Lekgetho commended the targeted investigator for maintaining professionalism and confirmed that the SIU will collaborate closely with law enforcement partners to see the prosecution through to its conclusion.