- The fraud and theft trial against Kgotso Khumalo and his co-accused will not be heard in the high court.
- The trial is expected to be held in the Ventersdorp Regional Court in October.
- The trio allegedly stole about R5 million donated to the embattled municipality.
The fraud and theft trial against former JB Marks mayor Kgotso Khumalo and two ex-employees has been moved to Ventersdorp.
The case was heard in the Potchefstroom Regional Court on Friday, but has now been transferred to the Ventersdorp Regional Court.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) initially wanted the matter to be moved to the high court in Mmabatho.
However, the move could not happen after Khumalo and his two co-accused made submissions, claiming that they would suffer financial constraints should the case be moved to Mmabatho.
NPA North West spokesperson Henry Mamothame said that, during a pre-trial hearing on Friday, all parties confirmed their readiness to proceed with the trial.
Mamothame said the State confirmed that investigations were concluded.
Khumalo, Cecil Henry and Mohau Shuping are facing eight charges of theft and fraud. They allegedly stole funds donated to the municipality.
It is alleged the North West University and the Programme for Community Development paid about R5 million into an attorney's trust account for the use of specific projects by the municipality.
The attorney was allegedly instructed to effect various payments, including a R208 000 mayoral committee contribution towards the funeral of the late North West MEC for Agriculture, Duma Ndleleni, in 2018.
Mamothame said the trio allegedly generated false invoices to effect more fictitious payments.
"Further to this act of criminality, Khumalo allegedly instructed the attorney to make payment to an NGO which did not exist. However, it was discovered that R200 000 was paid directly into the account of one of the accused. From this amount, R64 218 was paid to an institution where Khumalo's relative was a student," Mamothame said.
The trial will be heard on 11 October.