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By Getrude Makhafola

Premium Journalist


Bogus lawyer arrested at Mpumalanga court

The fake lawyer was representing a murder suspect in Bethal court.


Mpumalanga police arrested a man pretending to be an attorney during the appearance of a murder suspect in the Bethal Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

The 31-year-old man represented Mhlabuyaxega Mntungwa, who was previously put on a wanted list for the murder of a former manager of Sam Holdings, Nkosinathi Emmanuel Ngcongo in 2019.

According to police spokesperson Captain Sekgotodi Dineo, following the arrest of the getaway driver, a warrant of arrest was issued for Mntungwa.

Imposter arrested by the Hawks

The driver, Phindokuhle Eugene Nkosi,30, was eventually sentenced to 25 years in prison by the High Court sitting in Delmas.

“Mntungwa was arrested on 1 February 2023 by the provincial tracking team in KwaZulu-Natal. He was charged and appeared before the Bethal Magistrate’s Court, and was remanded in custody.

“The case was postponed to 24 March 2023. He was represented by his fake attorney who was arrested by the Hawks Secunda Serious Organised Crime and the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for impersonating an attorney.”

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Both Mntungwa and his bogus lawyer are expected to appear in the same court on Monday.

The 31-year-old faces charges of impersonating an attorney.

Fraudster arrested at the airport

Last week, police stationed at OR Tambo International Airport arrested A 54-year-old woman who has been evading police capture for about five years.

Limpopo police confirmed the woman was wanted for several cases of fraud and theft by false pretences after being on the run since 2017. They were alerted about her return to South Africa from Nigeria where she had fled and pounced on her upon her arrival in Johannesburg.

“The suspect allegedly ran Bogus Nursing Colleges and fraudulently registered unsuspecting students under the pretext that they were to acquire diplomas in nursing.

The victims were also assured of employment across the province upon completion of their studies. The suspect’s fraudulent dealings were unmasked when it was eventually discovered that the colleges were not authentic,” said Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo.

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