Businesswoman accused of pocketing nearly R200K for ghost employees during Covid-19 pandemic, out on bail

A Free State businesswoman who appeared in the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate’s Court has been released on bail.

Maletsatsi Julia Mathibela, 49, has been charged with fraud and money laundering relating to Covid-19 funds.

Mathibela was arrested on Friday, September 27, by members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks).

The provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Lieutenant Colonel Zweli Mohobeleli said the matter is being investigated by detectives from the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team based in Bethlehem.

“It is alleged that on September 27, 2020, the suspect applied for the Covid-19 relief fund with the Department of Labour. An amount over R199,000 was claimed on behalf of employees purported to be working for her company. However, investigations revealed that such employees never existed,” Mohobeleli said.

Mathibela appeared in court on the same day of her arrest and was released on R5,000 bail. The matter against her has been postponed until November 18.

In an unrelated incident, two brothers were arrested for allegedly murdering a 29-year-old man in Heilbron.

Police said the incident was called in on Sunday at about 5am about an alleged murder in Willemse Street in the Sandersville area.

On arrival at the scene, they found the victim who had sustained stab wounds to his upper body.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the two brothers allegedly arrived at the said address and found the deceased and his friends drinking in a shack. One of the suspects asked for cigarettes, and when they could not supply him with cigarettes, he became aggressive. It is further alleged the two brothers later went outside with the deceased and allegedly assaulted and stabbed him,” police spokesperson, Sergeant Josephine Rani said.

The suspects, aged 26 and 29, are expected to appear in the Heilbron Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, October 2.

-IOL

In other news – ‘I want my money’: Club owner breathes fire as Zodwa Wabantu pulls a no-show

A club owner demands his cash back from popular socialite and dancer Zodwa Wabantu. Stenga Shabangu, owner of Stengas Place in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, claimed that Zodwa took a booking fee but pulled a no-show.

He said Zodwa was booked to perform at Stengas Place on Saturday, 7 September but was nowhere to be found. Stenga told the publication in June he and Zodwa agreed on a R13 000 performance fee. Read More

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