Members of the Border Management Authority (BMA) on Thursday arrested a man at the Ramatlabama border post between South Africa and Botswana for alleged Covid-19 Temporary Employer Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) fraud.

Tokelo Winston Frederick Modiboa, who has been on the run since November 2022, is one of 20 accused implicated in Covid-19 Ters fraudulent claims which occurred between 2020 and 2021.

According to a statement issued by the police, the 59-year-old appeared in the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on Friday and is facing charges of fraud.

An investigation by the Hawks revealed that Modiboa received payments from three main accused – Kegomoditswe Parisian Moselane (36), Irving Ikgopoleng Mongale (46) and Khotjwe Goodwin Motsei (50) – who submitted fraudulent claims for their alleged employees.

The police said Moselane allegedly submitted fraudulent claims amounting to R271 000 from the Department of Employment and Labour for 47 people who have never worked for her company.

The investigation also uncovered that Moselane allegedly transferred money into the bank accounts of seven other accused, including Modiboa who received R27 000.

Seven suspects were arrested in November 2022 by the Hawks, in collaboration with the Tactical Operations Management Section.

Further investigation revealed that Modiboa received R34 000 from Mongale, who had claimed R970 000 from the department for 150 people who were never employees at his company.

The money was transferred to 13 other accused who have since been arrested and are out on bail.

Modiboa further received R89 500 from Khotjwe Goodwin Motsei who fraudulently claimed over R1m for 133 individuals who he alleged to be his employees. The funds were transferred to 11 other suspects who were arrested in November 2022 and are also out on bail.

“This brings the total number of suspects arrested for Covid-19 Ters fraudulent claims to 21. All the accused have been charged with fraud. Modiboa was remanded in custody and will appear in court on Wednesday,” said the police. – SAnews.gov.za