The HAWKS reported that Limpopo teacher, Mmakolobe Mathar Ramashala, 45, pleaded guilty to charges of defrauding the provincial Department of Education of R918,000 when she appeared before the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
Ramashala was sentenced to a R100,000 fine or five years imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years when she appeared in Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 05 April 2024.
Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa, Limpopo spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation said the Polokwane based Specialised Investigation Unit (SIU) received a proclamation for the investigation of serious maladministration in connection with the affairs of unlawful conduct by the official of the Department of Education.
“During April 2012, the Polokwane-based Specialised Investigating Unit (SIU) received a proclamation for the investigation of serious maladministration in connection with the affairs of unlawful conduct by the official of the Department of Education,” said Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa
Mmuroa said that between April 2010 and August 2012, Ramashala acted on the capacity of a director of her own company and rendered service to the department.
“Between April 2010 and August 2012, Ramashala acted on the capacity of a director of her own company and rendered service to the department. As a result, she received payment amounting to R980,000 without authority or disclosing that she was doing remunerative work outside of public service.”
Mmuroa said the matter was transferred to the Polokwane-based Hawks’ serious commercial investigation unit for further investigations.
Ramashala was traced and issued with summons to appear in court.
“The matter was investigated thoroughly until the accused (Ramashala) pleaded guilty on 10 counts of fraud and she was sentenced accordingly,” said Mmuroa.
52-YEAR-OLD LIMPOPO TEACHER ARRESTED FOR FRAUD
A 52 year old teacher, Refilwe Maphuthi Molepo employed by the Limpopo Department of Education (DoE) pleaded guilty on ten (10) counts of fraud and Contravention of Public Service Act and sentenced to sixty thousand rand (R60 000) fine or five (5) years imprisonment wholly suspended for five (5) years by the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crime’s Court on 05 April 2024.
Molepo was sentenced on Friday after she pleaded guilty on 10 counts of fraud and contravention of Public Service Act.
Hawks Spokesperson, Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa said during April 2012, a forensic investigator attached to Polokwane based Special Investigation Unit (SIU) received a proclamation for the investigation of serious maladministration in connection with the affairs of unlawful conduct by an official of the DoE.
“During April 2012, a forensic investigator attached to the Polokwane-based Special Investigating Unit (SIU) received a proclamation for the investigation of serious maladministration in connection with the affairs of unlawful conduct by an official of the Limpopo Department of Education,” said Mmuroa.
Between April 2010 and August 2012, the Hawks said Molepo acted in the capacity of a director of her own company, and rendered services to the Limpopo Department of Education.
She received payment amounting to over four hundred and thirty thousand rand (R430 000) without authority or disclosing to do remunerative working outside of public service. Molepo was traced and arrested in October 2023.
FORMER LIMPOPO SCHOOL TEACHER PLEADS GUILTY
A former Limpopo school teacher, Collen Lekgolane Mashweu has appeared before the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court facing charges of fraud.
Mashweu, 62, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of fraud and contravention of the Public Service Act, and was sentenced to R100,000 fine or five years imprisonment. The sentence is wholly suspended for five years.
Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa, Limpopo spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks said between April 2010 and August 2012, Mashweu who was employed by the Limpopo Department of Education as a teacher acted on the capacity of a director of her company and rendered services to the Department of Education.
“As a result, the department made payments amounting to over R556,000 without an authority or disclosing to do remunerative work outside of Public Service.”
The Hawks said Mashweu provided services of scholar transport through her private company.
The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) based in Polokwane received a proclamation for the investigations of serious maladministration in connection with the affairs within the Department of Education, following allegations of unlawful conduct by the officials of the Department of Education.
In 2023, Mmuroa said the matter was handed to the Polokwane-based Hawks’ serious commercial investigation unit for further probe.
Mashweu was traced and summoned to appear in court.
“The case was well-handled until the accused pleaded guilty on 10 count of fraud, contravention of the Public Service Act, and was sentenced to R100,000 fine or five years direct imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years,” said Mmuroa.
Meanwhile, acting provincial head of the Hawks in Limpopo, Brigadier Desmond Alexander has lauded the “meritorious investigations” done by the Hawks and the SIU which resulted in the successful prosecution.