Former Middleburg attorney convicted of stealing R4.1m in RAF claims
Over a three-year period, a former attorney stole millions in RAF payouts meant for her clients.
A former attorney, Mantladi Jo-Anne Mmela (43), has been convicted on four counts of theft involving over R4.1 million in Road Accident Fund (RAF) claims. The Mpumalanga Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, sitting in Middelburg, handed down the conviction on Thursday June 26.
Mmela, a former sole practitioner at Mmela Attorneys, committed the crimes between June 2019 and March 2022. In court, she pleaded not guilty, but senior state advocate Henry Nxumalo led compelling evidence through witnesses that proved the allegations against her.
According to Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, Mmela had submitted claims to the RAF on behalf of her clients. The payouts were deposited into the trust account of Mmela Incorporated Attorneys.
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However, instead of disbursing the funds to her clients, she stole more than R4.1 million. Nyuswa said the matter came to light when one of the victims reported that Mmela had failed to pay her. A subsequent investigation led to her arrest in 2022.
“She was granted bail, but later absconded, which resulted in a warrant being issued for her re-arrest in February 2024. She has been in custody since,” Nyuswa confirmed.
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Mmela is due to be sentenced on August 21.
