The Emalahleni Regional Court has ordered Lida Potgieter (62), to serve a six years direct imprisonment for 737 counts of fraud after her appeal bid failed on Tuesday 30 July 2019.
The case emanates from when she was a manager at the Witbank Municipality, and was elected treasurer of the municipalities’ Sports Club, wherein she stole almost R4 million between 2004 and July 2009. These funds were generated from member fees deducted from staff salaries. Potgieter then established an in-house lending scheme which employees invested in, hoping for increased earnings.
The scheme collapsed and the matter was reported to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit for investigation which resulted in Potgieter’s conviction on 18 February 2015. She appealed the judgement and was released on R10 000 bail with conditions pending the outcome.
A warrant for her arrest was issued after she was accused of violating the set bail conditions, she was arrested and her bail was forfeited.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
Woman remanded in custody for violation of bail conditions, Witbank
