Bongani Sibuyi (31) was found guilty and sentenced by the Bushbuckridge Magistrates’ Court for fraud and money laundering on Friday, 3 March 2023.
The sentenced was preceded by a lengthy and scrupulous exploration which was effected by the Serious Corruption Investigation team of the Hawks in Nelspruit.
The probe revealed that over the period between 2017 and 2018, Bongani Sibuyi recruited unemployed youth from poor rural areas of Bushbuckridge to be part of a skills development learnership programme.
More than 300 youth registered for the project and they were informed to pay an administration fee of R250 each into a company account.
Learners were promised to receive a stipend of R3500 per month. A few months after the commencement of the project, leaners embarked on a strike due to non-payment of the stipend as promised and as such the programme could not proceed.
It was found that the company was not registered with Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). Moreover it was also not accredited by Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA).
The money deposited was not used for the purpose it was intended for, subsequently Sibuyi was arrested with his partner. Sibuyi was found guilty of fraud and sentenced to 36 months imprisonment or R60 000 00 half of which is suspended whilst his partner was cleared on all charges.
