EASTERN CAPE – The Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sentenced Mzikazi Mhlalasa (57), Letitia Mack (49), Yonela Ntsaluba (39) and Nomthandazo Takayi (52) on 26 July 2023 for charges of theft. The fifth accused Nondumiso Waxa (45) reportedly passed away on 21 March 2019.
During the period between 21 August 2009 until 29 October 2010 the accused persons were employed by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in the Criminal Section of the New Law Court at Gqeberha. Their duties were to receive bail payments, issuing bail receipts, capturing monies on the accounting system and further attach duplicate on manual bail receipt to the charge sheet. The accused connived and issued bail receipts and never captured the transactions on the accounting system. All the accused directed the cash into their own pockets.
Investigations by the Gqeberha Serious Commercial Crime Investigation of the Hawks revealed that the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development was prejudiced more than R92.8 000. The accused were arrested in 2010 and were released on bail.
After several court appearances all four accused Mzikazi, Mack, Ntsaluba and Takayi were convicted on 21 June 2023 hence their sentencing on 26 July 2023.
Mhlalasa and Mack were sentenced to 5 years imprisonment wholly suspended for 5 years on condition that they are not convicted of fraud or any competent verdict thereto during the period of suspension.
Ntsaluba was given 5 years imprisonment or pay a fine of R30 000 payable in R5000 instalments to the clerk of the court before the 7th day of each month starting from 1 August 2023 until the full amount has been paid. Takayi on the other hand was also sentenced to 5 years direct imprisonment or a fine of R30 000 payable in instalments of R250.00 a month before the 7th of each month with effect from 1 August 2023 until the full amount has been paid up.
The Provincial Head Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya has congratulated the team of Gqeberha based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation of the Hawks for the expert collection of evidence that secured the conviction and sentencing of the four.