Marius Louw, a former mayor of ZF Mcgawu District Municipality, and his wife Gertrude Louw appeared in the Upington Magistrate’s Court for allegedly using forged paperwork to purchase two cars. The lawsuit involving Louw and his wife, Gertrude Louw, was postponed to August 30 after their court appearance on Monday.
They are accused of obtaining vehicle financing using forged documents.“The husband and wife are facing two charges of fraud emanating from purchasing two vehicles through fraudulent means by utilizing fictitious documents. It is alleged that the couple approached Wesbank with fake documents with an intention to purchase two motor vehicles,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in the Northern Cape Division, Mojalefa Senokoatsane.
“Their application was approved and they managed to purchase a VW Golf VII, with a total value of more than R900 000 as well as a Ford Ranger, with a total value of more than R700 000. It was later established that the accused used fictitious documents to obtain approval to purchase the two vehicles. A case was later opened, and the accused were arrested and the vehicles were repossessed by the bank,“ Senokoatsane said.
In June, the Hawks were arrested. In accordance with the ANC Nasrec 2017 resolution that members facing criminal accusations should step aside, Louw resigned from his positions as executive mayor of the ZF Mcgawu District Municipality and as regional deputy chairperson of the ANC in ZF Mgcawu soon after his arrest.
The couple is out on bail of R5 000 each.“The accused’s legal representative has notified the court that they wish to make representations to the director of public prosecutions,” Senokoatsane said.
On Tuesday of last week, the ANC in the Northern Cape acknowledged receiving Louw’s letter, in which he stated his desire to resign.Louw declined to talk with the media when asked for a remark. “No dude, I have no response,” I said. I have nothing to add. Please be respectful of that, Louw added and hung up.
Louw was informed to step aside, but according to the party’s regional secretary, Deshi Ngxanga, he was not offended. In the highly anticipated national elective conference in December, Louw and the ANC in the Northern Cape will support Ramaphosa in his bid for re-election as party leader.
”He (Louw0 is very close to me. Both of us strongly support Cyril for a second term. He is not aggrieved by what happened (having to step aside). He is a disciplined cadre of the movement and abides by the rules of the organization,’’ said Ngxanga.In November’s municipal elections, Louw has elected for the position of mayor. The party’s 8th regional convention, held in May of last year, saw him elected deputy chairperson.
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