Four accused: Nicolette Sybil Godeffroy (48), Semakaleng Maria Tsotetsi (72), Manini Semakale (62), and Alie Ndlovu (73), briefly appeared in the Hennenman Magistrate’s Court on fraud and money laundering charges following their arrest on the same day.

Bloemfontein Courant reports that according to Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti from the Hawks, it is alleged that in 2020, two Hennenman-based establishments – Mohau Child Care Project and Mamello Day Care Centre – represented by the accused, applied for the Covid-19 Temporary Employee Relief Scheme with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) on behalf of 19 purported employees who were never actually employed by these establishments.

“Their fraudulent applications were approved by the UIF, and as a result, the Department of Employment and Labour suffered a financial loss of more than R615 000 to both entities,” says Matoti.

She adds that a court docket was registered and referred to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, leading to the arrests.

The court released Godeffroy, Tsotetsi, Semakale, and Ndlovu on warning, and the case was postponed to March 31 for legal representation.

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