The fraud-accused former Mpumalanga Master of the High Court, Bina Masuku (46), and her acquaintance, Elvis Kgosiemang (37), parted ways with their attorney, Dimakatso Mashego.

They appeared at the Nelspruit Commercial Crime Court on Monday.

The case was postponed to June 2 for the appointment of new attorney. Masuku was remanded in custody and Kgosiemang’s bail was extended.

Mashego said, “I am not ready to proceed with the case. We spoke about it and they do not agree with me. I no longer have the right to speak on their behalf.

They terminated my contract.” During the court proceedings, state advocate Henry Nxumalo said, “The termination of the mandate is just to cause a delay. The documents were given to him more than a year ago and there is no conflict of interest.”

The spokesperson for the Hawks, Capt Dineo Sekgotodi, said they were arrested by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in 2019 for fraud, corruption, money laundering and contravention of the Immigration Act. “The arrest followed the investigation that was launched by the Serious Commercial Crime Investigations probing the alleged siphoning of claimants’ funds from the Master’s office for almost two years. It was established that the senior official allegedly directed claimants to her unqualified “lawyer” boyfriend to process the claims. Some claimants never received their monies; instead it was shared amongst the two.  

Approximately R1,7 million has since disappeared from twelve families. The enquiries have revealed that the boyfriend is not a lawyer and she misrepresented the state by claiming to be a South African.

ALSO READ: Two life sentences for rapist after five years

“The Department of Home Affairs’ Immigration Division finalised their investigation into her status in the country. The probe into the matter further linked the two companies, Zanvise Multi Holdings and Tanvise Trust Service as accused number three and four respectively; they were also charged,” Sekgotodi explained.

ALSO READ: Slow start for Ehlanzeni’s vaccine roll-out

The Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services issued a statement on November 12, 2019, confirming that Masuku had been dismissed by the department.