On Monday 20 December 2021, the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team arrested six (6) suspects; Nomthandazo Delsie Khoza (41), Error Mosibudi Makutu (45), Patrick Ngobeni (40), Themba Confidence Khoza (42), Musa Brandon Mathebula (43) and Portia Khoza (44), on warrants of arrests for 117 counts of fraud, corruption and money laundering.
It is alleged that between May 2019 and November 2020, Nomthandazo who is the main suspect in this case, was employed as an accounting clerk at the Department of Education in Bushbuckridge, Bohlabelo Region, responsible for payments of ex-employees and deceased beneficiaries.
She allegedly colluded with Mosibudi who is employed as accounting clerk at the same Department and created fraudulent beneficiaries of late employees, then channeled payments thereof to themselves and their relatives’ personal bank accounts, causing an actual loss to the amount of R3 010 475-44 to the Department.
Four vehicles were seized for further investigation and business closed.
The accused were charged and taken to Bushbuckridge Magistrate Court for first appearance and bail for accused number one Nomthandazo Khoza was set at R15 000-00.
Accused number 3 and 6 received bail amount of R5 000-00 each and accused number 2, 3 and 5 were released on an amount of R 3000-00 each.
The case is postponed to 24 March 2022 for further investigation
