Cape Town — Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) Commissioner Dr Nomsa Masuku has been arrested on fraud charges for allegedly embezzling student funds.
Police reported that she appeared in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court at the Palm Ridge Magistrates on Friday morning.
Masuku, a former Standard Bank employee, was appointed as the Head of the CSI Programme for the “Adopt A School Trust” which was established to provide scholarships and bursaries to children in the “Adopt A School” programme.
The programme helped individuals who qualify for the programme and who meet the selection criteria, to further their studies. Masuku was entrusted with the programme during her time at the bank.
“Through an intensive probe, the Hawks investigators established that the incumbent flaunted the processes of the trust by awarding scholarships to friends and family members through manipulation of documents and without the approval of the Committee with some of the monies deposited directly into her personal bank account to the tune of R1.2 million,” police spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, said.
Masuku was granted a fixed bail of R20 000 and the case was postponed to 4 September 2024 in the same court.
In response to Masuku’s arrest, the IEC said it will monitor the developments.
“The Electoral Commission is aware of the reported arrest of Commissioner Ddr Nomsa Masuku. It appears that the matter relates to her erstwhile employment and does not relate to her tenure in the Commission both as an employee and commissioner,” the IEC said.
#sapsHAWKS [UPDATE] Dr Nomsa Praisy Masuku (62), a former Standard Bank employee and current Independent Electoral Commission official appeared in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in Palm Ridge Magistrates following her arrest this morning by the… pic.twitter.com/WoN2hE7mog
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) June 21, 2024
[MEDIA STATEMENT]
Electoral Commission responds to the matter of the reported arrest of Commissioner Dr Nomsa Masuku.
The Electoral Commission is aware of the reported arrest of Commissioner Dr Nomsa Masuku. It appears that the matter relates to her erstwhile employment and… pic.twitter.com/qUIuq1Se9h
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) June 21, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
