Free State MMC arrested over alleged R70k land sale scam

An ANC councillor in the Maluti-a-Phofung (MaP) Local Municipality in the Free State, which includes the popular town of Harrismith, has been arrested amid scathing fraud allegations.

Pastor Mary Crockett’s arrest stems from allegations that she sold land to a community member, failed to transfer ownership, and defrauded the buyer of R70,000.

Despite receiving payment, the councillor, who is also a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Social Development, is accused of evading the buyer, who was left without the house or their money.

Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring, confirmed with Newsday that the councillor is in custody and is set to appear before court for her bail application hearing on 6 August.

He said that the councillor has been charged with fraud, but declined to elaborate further on the details of the case.

Crockett appeared briefly before the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate’s Court on Monday, August 4, after being arrested by police over the weekend.

According to police, her case is not related to her ANC party affiliation.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the MaP will closely monitor the legal proceedings “until the matter is fully resolved, reaffirming its dedication to justice and good governance.”

MaP, in the eastern Free State near Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal, spans towns like Harrismith, Kestell, and Phuthaditjhaba.

Today, MaP has around 400,000 residents, over 90% of whom are Sesotho-speaking.

It includes much of the former QwaQwa homeland, a legacy that still shapes its deep socio-economic challenges. After apartheid, QwaQwa was integrated into the Free State, forming the foundation of MaP.

The municipality suffers from high poverty (82%) and unemployment (over 40%), relying heavily on government grants and small-scale trade.

Once an ANC stronghold, MaP shifted to coalition governance after years of governance failures and corruption.

Despite several interventions, including a 2018 administration, issues like poor service delivery and billions Eskom debt persist.

Parliament slams Maluti-a-Phofung over collapse in governance

With aging infrastructure, weak local industry, and limited resources, MaP remains one of South Africa’s most financially and administratively troubled municipalities.

Earlier this year, the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs raised serious concerns about financial mismanagement, poor service delivery, and political infighting in MaP.

During its final oversight visit in the Free State, the committee heard that the municipality faces a R1.5 billion deficit, crippling Eskom debt, poor revenue collection, and failing water, electricity, and road infrastructure.

It also flagged the employment of unqualified staff, an unaffordable wage bill, and widespread corruption.

The committee attributed the dysfunction to deep political instability, weak financial controls, and maladministration, highlighted by repeated disclaimers from the Auditor-General.

It called for urgent audits, investigations, and strict consequence management, particularly against officials implicated in corruption and unauthorised or irregular expenditure.

It also demanded action on findings from Special Investigating Unit reports and recommended a post-audit action plan.

Tensions between the mayor, speaker, and municipal manager, along with ongoing allegations and counter-accusations, were flagged by the committee as major barriers to progress.

While acknowledging some improvements such as refuse removal efforts, the committee stressed that accusations over contracts must be probed.

Chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize called for national and provincial support to rebuild the municipality’s governance structures and restore public confidence, urging municipal leaders to take responsibility and act with urgency.