Latest news with #LumkaMahanjana
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
Former Curro accounting clerk faces court for over R2. 8 million theft
A former accounting clerk at Curro East Lynne has been released on R15,000 bail for R2.8 million alleged theft. A 39-year-old former accounting clerk at Curro East Lynne in Pretoria has been released on R15,000 bail for R2.8 million alleged theft. Haranet Chunisa Ullow Loetries appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Thursday where she was released on stringent bail conditions. Some of the conditions include that she must report to the Villieria Police Station every Monday and Friday between 6am and 8pm. "She may not apply for a similar position, may not interfere directly or indirectly with witnesses, and may not leave the district without informing the investigating officer," said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana. Mahanjana added that Loetries faces a charge of theft which allegedly occurred between August 2024 and July 2025 while she was still employed as an accounting clerk at Curro East Lynne.
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Former school clerk accused of stealing R2.8m granted R15,000 bail
The Pretoria magistrate's court has granted bail of R15,000 to Haranet Chunisa Ullow Loetries, a former school clerk who allegedly stole R2.8m from a Pretoria private school. 'It is alleged that between August 2024 and July 2025, while employed as an accounting clerk at Curro East Lynne, she transferred more than R2.8m into bank accounts registered in her name,' said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana on Thursday. The alleged theft came to light after an internal audit and the school reported the matter to the police. The accused was arrested on Tuesday after she handed herself over to the police. 'In court, the state did not oppose bail, noting that she was not considered a flight risk, her residential address had been verified, and she had no previous convictions or pending cases.' The matter was postponed to August 25 for transfer to the Pretoria specialised commercial crimes court.
The Herald
6 days ago
- The Herald
Benoni man accused of raping and impregnating daughter denied bail
The Tsakani magistrate's court on Tuesday denied bail to a 39-year-old man from Lindelani, Benoni, who is accused of raping and impregnating his daughter, who was 15, in 2022. The man had applied for bail on Friday. 'The alleged abuse began in March 2022 when the victim lived with her parents and younger brother in Tsakani,' National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said. On the day of the first incident, the mother was at church and left her daughter with her father and brother. The father allegedly called the victim into the house and sent her brother to buy chips. 'When the victim got inside the house she found the father in her room. The father allegedly locked the door behind her, undressed both himself and the victim, raped her, and left her in her room.' Upon the mother's return, she found the victim crying on her bed. 'She told her mother what had happened but the mother did not believe her.' The abuse allegedly continued when the mother was not around and the child stopped telling her mother as she still did not believe the victim. The child became pregnant the same year. The mother brought a concoction and told the child to drink it in an attempt to abort her baby, which failed. The parents then moved the victim to Limpopo to live with her paternal grandmother, where she gave birth to a boy in December 2022. 'After turning 18, the victim opened a case in Limpopo on July 7 2025, resulting in the father's arrest on July 19 2025.' In court, the father sought R1,000 bail, citing his role as the primary caregiver for his three children aged one, 12, and 18 since his unemployed wife could not support them. Prosecutor Sindi Leonora Sejake called investigating officer Sgt Tebogo Lephoto, who opposed the accused's release on bail because the state had a strong case. Lephoto said DNA evidence revealed that the accused was the father of the victim's three-year-old child. 'The investigating officer testified that the accused was likely to interfere with witnesses since he went to Limpopo from Gauteng in attempt to confront the child after he realised that the child had opened a case against him and was speaking about the matter on social media.' Magistrate Tebogo Lekgau denied bail, noting the severity of the charge and the likelihood of a life sentence if convicted. She emphasised the strong state case, the accused's potential to evade trial and the community outcry that prompted the family's relocation. 'Moreover, the magistrate said, the vulnerable child was failed by her father as he repeatedly raped her, while her mother also failed to protect her by refusing to believe her.' The case was postponed to August 28. TimesLIVE
IOL News
7 days ago
- IOL News
No bail for Benoni father accused of raping and impregnating his own daughter
This heart-wrenching case highlights critical issues surrounding child abuse and the systemic failures that can leave victims unprotected. Image: Pexels The Tsakani Magistrates' Court has denied bail to a 39-year-old father from Lindelani, Benoni, accused of repeatedly raping his daughter when she was just 15. The ruling was delivered on Tuesday, just days after his first court appearance. The alleged abuse began in March 2022, when the victim, who is now 18, was living with her parents and younger brother in Tsakani. According to court testimonies, the father lured the victim into their home while the mother was attending church, sending her brother out to buy chips. The father allegedly locked the door behind her, undressed both himself and the victim, and raped her before leaving the scene. Upon returning home, the mother reportedly found her daughter crying on her bed. When asked, the girl disclosed what had happened, but her mother did not believe her accusations. This pattern continued, with the mother dismissing further claims of abuse even as the rapes persisted in her absence. The girl fell ill, leading to a visit to Pholosong Hospital, where it was confirmed that she was pregnant. The mother attempted to abort the pregnancy using a concoction, which ultimately failed. The situation grew more precarious when the parents decided to move the victim to Limpopo to stay with her paternal grandmother, where she eventually gave birth to a boy in December 2022. After turning 18, the girl reported the rape and last month, she opened a case in Limpopo, prompting her father's arrest. In court, the father requested bail set at R1,000, insisting he was the primary caregiver for three other children aged 1, 12, and 18, as his unemployed wife was unable to provide for them. The National Prosecuting Authority's Lumka Mahanjana said Prosecutor Sindi Leonora Sejake countered this argument, asserting a strong case against the accused, supported by DNA evidence confirming his paternity of the victim's child. Investigating officer, Sergeant Tebogo Lephoto, further testified about the risk of witness interference, noting that the father had travelled to Limpopo in an apparent bid to confront the victim once he learned of her decision to press charges. Magistrate Tebogo Lekgau ruled against the bail application, underscoring the gravity of the allegations that could lead to a life sentence if the accused is convicted. "She highlighted the strong state case and the community outcry that necessitated the family's relocation. Emphasising the vulnerability of the child and the betrayal she faced from both her parents, first by her father's abuse and secondly by her mother's denial, Magistrate Lekgau firmly stated that it was not in the interests of justice to grant bail," Mahanjana said The case has now been postponed to August 28. IOL
TimesLIVE
7 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Benoni man accused of raping and impregnating daughter denied bail
The Tsakani magistrate's court on Tuesday denied bail to a 39-year-old man from Lindelani, Benoni, who is accused of raping and impregnating his daughter, who was 15, in 2022. The man had applied for bail on Friday. 'The alleged abuse began in March 2022 when the victim lived with her parents and younger brother in Tsakani,' National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said. On the day of the first incident, the mother was at church and left her daughter with her father and brother. The father allegedly called the victim into the house and sent her brother to buy chips. 'When the victim got inside the house she found the father in her room. The father allegedly locked the door behind her, undressed both himself and the victim, raped her, and left her in her room.' Upon the mother's return, she found the victim crying on her bed. 'She told her mother what had happened but the mother did not believe her.' The abuse allegedly continued when the mother was not around and the child stopped telling her mother as she still did not believe the victim. The child became pregnant the same year. The mother brought a concoction and told the child to drink it in an attempt to abort her baby, which failed. The parents then moved the victim to Limpopo to live with her paternal grandmother, where she gave birth to a boy in December 2022. 'After turning 18, the victim opened a case in Limpopo on July 7 2025, resulting in the father's arrest on July 19 2025.' In court, the father sought R1,000 bail, citing his role as the primary caregiver for his three children aged one, 12, and 18 since his unemployed wife could not support them. Prosecutor Sindi Leonora Sejake called investigating officer Sgt Tebogo Lephoto, who opposed the accused's release on bail because the state had a strong case. Lephoto said DNA evidence revealed that the accused was the father of the victim's three-year-old child. 'The investigating officer testified that the accused was likely to interfere with witnesses since he went to Limpopo from Gauteng in attempt to confront the child after he realised that the child had opened a case against him and was speaking about the matter on social media.' Magistrate Tebogo Lekgau denied bail, noting the severity of the charge and the likelihood of a life sentence if convicted. She emphasised the strong state case, the accused's potential to evade trial and the community outcry that prompted the family's relocation. 'Moreover, the magistrate said, the vulnerable child was failed by her father as he repeatedly raped her, while her mother also failed to protect her by refusing to believe her.' The case was postponed to August 28.
