Cape Town – Six former government officials accused of defrauding the state of millions appeared at the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa said the accused were arrested in Mbombela on suspicion of being involved in multi-million-rand vehicle licensing fraud.
She said they faced 603 charges of fraud, theft and money laundering.
Five of them worked at the Mpumalanga Provincial Administration of the Department of Safety and Liaison as administrators while one worked as a clerk at the Mbombela Municipality Registering Authority, said Nyuswa.
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“Between 2018 and 2019, the six accused allegedly conducted unlawful transactions, among others, by licensing private motor vehicles as though they belonged to government departments,” Nyuswa said.
This cost the province close to R60 million in revenue.
The accused, Xoliswa Celia Ngelwane, 51, Nkosinathi Samuel Gumede, 37, Agnes Nozipho Ndzinisa, 53, Thembi Millicent Motlohi, 42, and Alman Thabang Masuku, 42 and Nompumelelo Winnie Nxumalo, 44, were granted bail of R15 000 each.
The matter was postponed to September 29 for further investigation, said Nyuswa.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
