MBOMBELA – Three former employees of the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform appeared in the Nelspruit Regional Court on Friday. They stand accused of defrauding the department by arranging payment of R2,95 million to a fake service provider that had to assist in developing a Hermansburg farm after it was transferred in terms of land-claim regulations.
The owner of the service provider, Ms Mildred Thandi Mndawe, was convicted of money laundering in November last year.
Mr Jacob Zenzele Mncwango, Ms Ntokozo Grace Mokoka and Mr Skhumbuzo Nkosi were employed with the provincial Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. The complainants in the case are the members of the Endlovini Project, who were supposed to receive tools that would enable them to establish sustainable infrastructure on their newly acquired farm.
It is alleged that the accused saw their duty to assist in contracting service providers for this purpose as an opportunity to cultivate their own riches.
Mncwango, Mokoka and Nkosi reportedly approached Mndawe to arrange the fraudulent deal. National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mr Nathi Mncube confirmed that Mndawe was approached by the syndicate to submit a fraudulent quotation for work purportedly done on the farm.
She submitted a quote for the amount of R2,9 million on behalf of her closed corporation, Saidi Trading, to the officials at the department. This was paid into her bank account. She paid various amounts to the other syndicate members and was given R250 000 herself. She bought a Polo Vivo and settled some debts.
She was convicted and sentenced to pay a fine of R30 000 or spend four years in jail, suspended for five years. She was also ordered to compensate the complainants to the amount of R10 000. It was ordered that the Endlovini Project would be the beneficiary of the value of the motor vehicle, which was sold by the state.
The three accused of operating the fraudulent syndicate will appear on fraud and money laundering charges again on October 8. The accused’s bail was extended.
