MBOMBELA – January 29 was confirmed as the provisional trial date of an ABSA staff member and his six co-accused who face charges of stealing R4,1 million from the bank.
Mr Themba Mafunyeka (28), Mr Evans Thwala, Mr Tsepho Tsela (29), Mr Phulani Lekhuleni (29), Mr Happy Mashego (33), Ms Mzamo Rose Thwala (30) and Mr Given Mafunyaka (30) appeared briefly in the Nelspruit Regional Court last Monday.
Lowvelder previously reported that Mafunyeka, who was a custodian at the bank at the time of the incident, was the alleged mastermind behind the theft. Apparently he was assisted by the bank’s contracted cleaner in illegally accessing ATMs and changing their access combinations on March 27 and 28 last year.
CCTV cameras recorded the two walking out of the bank with bags full of cash. The suspects were reportedly travelling from Mbombela to Middelburg when they were apprehended in a crime-intelligence-driven operation on April 1, 2014.
Lowvelder previously reported that Col Leonard Hlathi, spokesman for the SAPS in Mpumalanga, said Mafunyeka and Thwala were interviewed by the police and led them to their five accomplices. These five were granted bail last year. Mafunyeka and Thwala remained in custody.
