Four accused convicted for theft of bail monies

The Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court convicted Mzikazi Mahlalasa (57), Letitia Mack (49), Yonela Ntsaluba (39) and Nomthandazo Takayi (52) on 21 June 2023 for charges of theft. The fifth accused, Nondumiso Waxa (45) passed on in March 2019.

During the period from 21 August 2009 to 29 October 2010, the accused persons were employed by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in Criminal Section New Law Courts at Gqeberha where 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 personal accounts.

The investigation by the Gqeberha based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation of the Hawks revealed that the department was prejudiced more than R92 800. The accused were arrested in 2010 and were released on bail. After several court appearances, the accused were found guilty and they will be sentenced on 26 July 2023.

Source: South African Police Service