The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in the Free State is investigating fraud cases against three former provincial government officials. Two suspects, Thembisile Enie Ntshengila (38) and Zamambo Thulisule Mkhize (35), worked as senior administrative clerks at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in Warden, while the third suspect, Modiehi Rebecca Mokoena (57), worked as a human resource officer at the Department of Education in Sasolburg.
Their arrest for allegedly defrauding their respective departments following an ongoing investigation. They reportedly committed the crime during their employment.
Capt. Christopher Singo, spokesperson, said the trio face charges of fraud, forgery, uttering and money laundering. Mokoena was granted bail of R5 000 during her appearance in Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court on 26 May while Ntshengila and Mkhize were released on bail of R4 000 each during their appearance on 2 June.
Mokoena’s hearing is set for 24 June with Mkhize and Ntshengila is set to reappear on 11 August in the Bethlehem Magistrate’s Court.
Singo said preliminary investigation reveal due to fraudulent activities the two departments were prejudiced and suffered a loss of more than R1 million each. He said according to investigation Mkhize and Ntshengila allegedly defrauded the department’s third party funds received from clients of the department.
“The suspects were entrusted to receive and bank the money for the department. They allegedly used some of the money for their own benefit,” said Singo. This happenede between 2018 and 2020.
Mokoena, who was working as a Human Resource Officer at the Fezile Dabi District, allegedly created ghost employees in the department’s system. According to Singo, the suspect allegedly used personal details of her family members to create ghost employees and salary advice.
“She allegedly used her personal banking details as if they belonged to those ghost employees. The suspect made salary payments to different bank accounts that belonged to her,” said Singo.
The crime took place between the period of 2006 until 2018.
