VANDERBIJLPARK – Janitha van Reenen-Coetzee faces an anxious wait as prosecutors decide whether her case involving a multi-million-rand electricity syndicate will go to trial.
Van Reenen-Coetzee made a brief appearance at the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court, where senior prosecutor Titus Daniso informed the court that the matter must wait for a decision from the Senior Public Prosecutor on trial readiness.
The case will return to court on November 24, and her bail remains extended until then.
Her appearance coincides with related investigations into financial misconduct at the embattled Emfuleni Local Municipality, which also included the case of Mpho Malema and Lerato Mpho Mpholo on the court roll.
Van Reenen-Coetzee’s legal troubles originally began with a separate fraud case involving roughly R424 000 allegedly stolen from the municipality.
Following her arrest in May, the State alleged she posed as an independent agent offering residents discounts on their municipal accounts.
Residents allegedly gave her money for discounted settlements, but the funds reportedly never reached the municipality.
She is also accused of submitting claims that redirected about R424 000 into her own hands.
The alleged fraud came to light after the late municipal financial officer, Martha Mani Rantsofu, raised concerns over suspicious claims.
Tragically, Rantsofu was shot dead in Vanderbijlpark in March. While Van Reenen-Coetzee’s fraud case has drawn interest due to reported links to the investigation into Rantsofu’s killing, those murder allegations must be kept separate from her fraud charges.
After losing several attempts to secure release, the Johannesburg High Court granted her R10 000 bail in early September.
However, just hours later on September 3, the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team rearrested her outside the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court regarding an alleged electricity reconnection syndicate.
Investigators believe she masterminded the operation, which reportedly cost the municipality around R9.9m.
She appeared alongside seven co-accused individuals. Police said that the syndicate targeted residents and businesses facing electricity disconnections over unpaid municipal accounts.
The accused allegedly restored power unlawfully in exchange for payments and manipulated municipal records to falsely lower outstanding debts before the records reverted to their original balances.
Investigators have examined cellphone evidence, including WhatsApp messages, and bank transactions. Authorities believe the operation started in 2024 and are continuing their investigation to determine the total financial losses and find any other suspects.
In the electricity case, Van ReenenCoetzee faces charges of theft, fraud, money laundering, and tampering with essential infrastructure. She secured R20 000 bail on September 18, joining her seven co-accused who were also released on bail.
