The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team have arrested six people for fraud, corruption, and money laundering in Mpumalanga.
According to a statement released by the South African Police Service, the suspects were arrested on Monday.
They allegedly defrauded the education department of R3-million.
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The main suspect, Nomthandazo Delsie Khoza (41), was employed as an accounting clerk at the Department of Education in Bushbuckridge, Bohlabelo Region.
She was responsible for payments of ex-employees and deceased beneficiaries, but allegedly colluded with another suspect, Error Mosibudi Makutu, who is employed as an accounting clerk at the same Department. They created fraudulent beneficiaries of late employees.
They then channeled payments to themselves and their relatives’ personal bank accounts, causing an actual loss to the amount of R3,010,475.44 to the Department, states the statement from SAPS.
The crime happened between May 2019 and November 2020.
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Other suspects in the case are Patrick Ngobeni (40), Themba Confidence Khoza (42), Musa Brandon Mathebula (43), and Portia Khoza (44).
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.
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