Court sentences man who wanted to steal from dialysis centre in Trichardt
Thabiso Steven Mokwana (38) pleaded guilty to charges of corruption, conspiracy and inducing another person to commit a crime and theft.
A man who concocted a plot to steal critical dialysis consumables from the dialysis centre in Trichardt in 2024 has been given a suspended sentence.
Thabiso Steven Mokwana (38) pleaded guilty to charges of corruption, conspiracy and inducing another person to commit a crime and theft.
The Evander Regional Court sentenced Mokwana (38) on October 28 to a fine of R6 000 or two years imprisonment for corruption; another 18 months imprisonment wholly suspended for five years on the conspiracy charge and two years, wholly suspended for five years for the theft.
Mokwana’s committed the crime in May 2024 when he approached the manager of the dialysis centre with a plan to steal critical equipment valued at about R47 000.
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He tried to persuade the manager to steal dialysis consumables from the facility in exchange for R5 000.
Recognising the gravity of the proposition and its potential impact on healthcare services, the manager reported the matter to the Hawks.
Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, spokesperson for the Hawks in Mpumalanga, said an unconventional investigation was authorised, culminating in a controlled operation.
The transaction proceeded under the watchful eye of investigators, and the accused was arrested immediately after the dialysis equipment had been loaded into a Volkswagen Polo.
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The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber, praised the collaborative efforts that led to the conviction.
“Corruption is an insidious scourge that erodes public trust and threatens the integrity of essential institutions.
“This conviction demonstrates that those who seek to enrich themselves through dishonest means will find no sanctuary from the law.
“The Hawks remain steadfast in dismantling criminal schemes that undermine the rule of law and jeopardise critical services relied upon by our communities,” said General Gerber.
