Former cop in KaBokweni court for defrauding pensioner also faces rhino poaching-related charges
The former constable and her accomplice allegedly swapped an old woman's bank card and withdrew some money.
The former police constable who appeared in the KaBokweni Magistrate’s Court on fraud charges on January 8 is also an accused in some rhino poaching-related cases.
Thembi Aretha Mhlanga (47) is one of four accused people. The others are the alleged rhino poaching kingpin, Joseph ‘Big Joe’ Nyalungu, Claude Lubisi and Rachel Qwebana.
In her recent brush with the law, Mhlanga was arrested with Sarel Sithole (37) after they had allegedly swapped a bank card belonging to a 71-year-old woman. A police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, said the woman had gone to withdraw cash from an ATM at the Dayizenza Shopping Complex in Masoyi on January 3, when the two offered her assistance. “They claimed there was no network at the ATM and advised her to attempt to withdraw the money at a nearby supermarket. Once there, the victim discovered that her bank card had been swapped,” said Ndubane.
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It was then discovered that an amount of R1 700 had already been withdrawn from her bank account
She rushed to the local Sassa offices. “It was then discovered that an amount of R1 700 had already been withdrawn from her bank account,” said Ndubane. The victim then reported the matter to the police, who after investigating, traced the suspects and arrested them on January 6.
Mhlanga, a former constable at Skukuza Police Station, was granted R1 000 bail, while Sithole was remanded in custody due to having other cases pending against her. The two accused’s next court appearance will be in the Masoyi Periodical Court on January 15.
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Mhlanga’s work as a police officer was cut short following her earlier arrest in the rhino poaching-related cases.
Meanwhile, Mhlanga, Nyalungu, Lubisi and Qwebana are facing more than 40 counts relating to rhino poaching, the illegal sale of rhino horn, racketeering, money laundering, theft, fraud, corruption, contravening the Firearms Control Act, and contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. They are scheduled to appear in the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court on Friday.
Chief Clyde Mnisi and Petrus Mshengu Mabuza had also been among the accused, but were both assassinated in 2021 and 2023 respectively.
