Latest news with #Mhlakuvana
The Citizen
7 days ago
- The Citizen
Prosecutor faces R1.1m fraud charges over fake law degree
The fraud began unravelling when the NPA requested original academic certificates from Nomandindi. A former National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) prosecutor appeared in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Tuesday after allegedly defrauding the state of more than R1.1 million using falsified academic qualifications. Luthando Nomandindi, 33, faces charges of fraud, forgery and uttering following his arrest by the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit. The charges stem from his alleged submission of fake academic credentials to secure employment as a prosecutor. Failed student turns to forgery The case centres on Nomandindi's time at Walter Sisulu University between 2010 and 2016. Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said Nomandindi was enrolled for a Bachelor of Laws degree during this period but failed to meet graduation requirements. 'During the period between January 2010 and December 2016, Nomandindi was enrolled for a Bachelor's of Law (LLB) degree at Walter Sisulu University (WSU),' Mhlakuvana said. However, he allegedly failed to meet the academic requirements needed to graduate. Despite not completing his studies, Nomandindi allegedly created fraudulent documents in 2020. He submitted a falsified LLB degree certificate and a bogus Legal Education and Development attendance report as part of his application to the NPA's Aspirant Prosecutor Programme. ALSO READ: How political interference hollowed out Saps and NPA Fraudulent career progression The NPA programme required applicants to possess a legitimate LLB qualification or proof of final-year status. Based on his fake credentials, Nomandindi secured a position in the programme. 'In January 2021, Nomandindi was reportedly appointed as an Aspirant Prosecutor and later elevated to the position of Public Prosecutor,' Mhlakuvana said. The accused continued using the same fraudulent qualifications to advance his career. Police reports revealed he applied for promotion to Court Prosecutor at the Regional Court level and was shortlisted for the position. ALSO READ: SA cannot have a weak NPA that cannot do its job – Zondo Investigation uncovers deception The fraud began unravelling when the NPA requested original academic certificates from Nomandindi. Faced with this demand, he abruptly resigned on 15 March 2025. The institution discovered discrepancies in his qualifications and referred the matter to the Hawks for investigation. The probe confirmed the extent of the deception. Hawks investigators established that Walter Sisulu University had never conferred an LLB degree on Nomandindi. The Legal Education and Development organisation also never issued him the attendance report due to outstanding fees on his account. Financial impact and arrest The fraudulent scheme cost the state significantly. Mhlakuvana said the NPA suffered actual financial prejudice exceeding R1.1 million from salaries paid to Nomandindi during his fraudulent employment period. 'Nomandindi allegedly defrauded the NPA by submitting forged academic qualifications to secure employment,' Mhlakuvana said. The Hawks arrested Nomandindi on 22 July 2025. He appeared before the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court the same day and was granted R5 000 bail. The matter was remanded to 18 August 2025, for disclosure of docket contents. READ NEXT: Man sentenced to life for murder of KZN ward councillor
The Herald
7 days ago
- The Herald
Bid for promotion leads to arrest for ‘degree fraud'
An Eastern Cape prosecutor has been arrested by the Hawks on charges of fraud, forgery and uttering for allegedly submitting forged academic qualifications to secure employment. Police spokesperson W/O Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said the 33-year-old had been enrolled for a Bachelor of law (LLB) degree at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) between January 2010 and December 2016. He allegedly failed to meet the academic requirements to graduate. Despite this, he allegedly submitted a falsified LLB degree certificate and a bogus legal education and development (Lead) attendance report as part of his application to the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) aspirant prosecutor programme, which required a legitimate LLB qualification or proof of final year status. Mhlakuvana said the accused was appointed as an aspirant prosecutor i n January 2021 and later elevated to the position of public prosecutor. Proof of his qualifications was requested when he sought to climb the career ladder. "The accused applied for promotion at regional court as a prosecutor using the same credentials and he was shortlisted for appointment. However, the NPA requested him to submit the original academic certificates," Mhlakuvana said. He resigned with effect from March 15. "The institution picked up discrepancies in his qualifications and referred the matter to the Hawks for investigation. "The Hawks confirmed WSU had never conferred an LLB degree to him and Lead had never issued him the attendance report due to outstanding fees. "Through misrepresentation, the NPA suffered financial prejudice of more than R1.1m from the salaries paid to him during his fraudulent term of employment." The would-be prosecutor was arrested on July 22 and briefly appeared before the Mthatha specialised commercial crime court on the same day, where he was granted R5,000 bail. The case was postponed to August 18. TimesLIVE
Daily Maverick
11-06-2025
- Daily Maverick
New Brighton shop owner kidnapped, Hawks investigation under way
The Hawks are investigating a kidnapping that took place in New Brighton on Tuesday evening, with 'law-enforcement agencies on the ground'. A 38-year-old man was kidnapped outside his business in New Brighton, Gqeberha, on Tuesday evening – the latest in a disturbing trend of abductions across the Nelson Mandela Bay metro. According to Hawks spokesperson Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana the incident took place on Tuesday evening just as the victim was preparing to close his shop. He was ambushed by a group of unidentified suspects who forced him into his Suzuki sedan and drove off. Minutes later, the kidnappers issued a ransom demand, Mhlakuvana said. 'There have been no further updates at this stage. Law enforcement agencies are on the ground and the investigation is ongoing.' Troubling pattern Over the past 12 months at least nine kidnappings – primarily motivated by ransom – have taken place in Nelson Mandela Bay: A 45-year-old teacher was kidnapped in March 2025 outside Happydale Special School in Algoa Park. Armed men dragged her from her Toyota Fortuner shortly after she arrived. She was reunited with her family three days later. It is unclear if a ransom was paid; Josh Sullivan, an American missionary, was abducted in April 2025 during a church service in Motherwell. He was rescued in KwaMagxaki five days later during a police operation in which three suspects were killed; Ebrahim Moosa, a businessman from Kruisrivier near Kariega, was kidnapped in February from his business premises. He was rescued by police a week later. Two people were arrested; Two foreign nationals were kidnapped in mid-February 2025 in an undisclosed part of Nelson Mandela Bay. Police have confirmed the case but provided few details. Investigations are ongoing; A Dutch tourist couple were hijacked and kidnapped in December 2024 near the R335, between Jeffreys Bay and Addo. They were robbed and later released unharmed; A Somali was abducted in Gelvandale in November 2024, held for ransom and released three days later with minor injuries. His kidnappers remain at large; Qays Mohaned Hersi Mohamoud, a Somali student, was kidnapped in Gelvandale in November 2024. He was later released unharmed; Kelvin Naidoo, the deputy president of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, was abducted in July 2024 and released six days later. The case sparked widespread public concern and condemnation from business leaders; and A 56-year-old man was lured to his gate in Nemato, Port Alfred, in May 2024, where he was abducted by a woman and a group of accomplices. He was rescued by police in Gqeberha. One suspect was arrested. In 2024, after Naidoo was abducted, the Nelson Mandela Bay Civil Society Coalition wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa to ask for urgent intervention in the metro to deal with 'alarming and escalating levels of crime'. 'This metro used to be one of the safer metros in the country, but due to the systematic breakdown of law and order enforcement, this has become an exceptionally dangerous place for its citizens and communities. The alarming crime statistics, which include high levels of brutal shootings, robberies, hijackings, kidnappings, cybercrimes and vandalism of public and private infrastructure, cannot proceed unabated. 'These crimes have severe consequences upon the safety and security of people, especially vulnerable communities, and have serious economic ramifications in terms of the retention of much-needed investment and employment in our metro, which is in a province which now has more people unemployed than employed,' the coalition's Mongameli Peter wrote. DM
The Citizen
12-05-2025
- The Citizen
SASSA disability grant fraudster sentenced to six months in jail
The Mthatha Magistrate's Court sentenced a social grant fraudster Anele Gxumeka to six months of direct imprisonment. An Eastern Cape man has been sentenced to six months for South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) disability grant fraud. Anele Gxumeka appeared in the Mthatha Magistrate's Court last week, where the sentence was handed down. Manipulating documents This decision follows Gxumeka's fraudulent attempts to benefit from the Sassa while manipulating medical documents to secure a social grant. Hawks spokesperson, Warrant-Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, said the 41-year-old Gxumeka went to the Lusikisiki Sassa offices with the intent to apply for a disability grant. Gxumeka submitted his medical documents detailing his health history to the designated SASSA medical doctor for perusal. Upon scrutinising the documents, the doctor developed suspicions and picked up discrepancies in the medical card 'Furthermore, the doctor also picked up that the illness transcribed on the documents did not make Gxumeka qualify for a disability grant. Therefore, SASSA promptly alerted the police, and then later the matter was dispensed to the Hawks for thorough investigation,' said Mhlakuvana. ALSO READ: 11 accused in Sassa R260 million fraud case to remain behind bars Police alerted Mhlakuvana said the doctor promptly alerted the police, and then later the matter was referred to the Hawks for thorough investigation. Investigations confirmed that Gxumeka submitted fraudulent documents to SASSA with the intent to defraud the institution, hence his arrest in February 2023. 'Gxumeka made several court appearances until his sentencing by the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes court on 8 May 2025. Gxumeka was sentenced to undergo six (6) months of direct imprisonment with no option of a fine,' Mhlakuvana said. Sassa fraud Last month, the 11 accused in the R260 Sassa were remanded behind bars after their court appearance The accused fraudsters were back in the Lenasia Magistrate's Court, south of Johannesburg, to continue their bail application. The case, which first made headlines in 2024, has faced multiple postponements. The 11, including eight Sassa officials, are facing multiple charges, including cybercrime, fraud, and theft. ALSO READ: Sassa millions 'heist' in Rosebank underground car park
IOL News
08-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Eastern Cape woman pulls off a R1. 6 million payday scam with 17 sneaky bank accounts
The Hawks in the Eastern Cape have arrested former debtor's clerk was convicted of defrauding her company of over R1.6 million. Image: Hawks A 44-year-old Eastern Cape woman was convicted on Tuesday of defrauding her employer of more than R1.6 million through a scheme involving 17 different bank accounts in her name. Nortier was convicted by the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on May 7, 2025, on charges of fraud and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, No. 121 of 1998. Provincial Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said Nortier's conviction followed her arrest by the Gqeberha-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team of the Hawks, in conjunction with the National Prosecuting Authority, in August 2024. Mhlakuvana said between September 2019 and November 2022, Nortier, while employed as the debtor's clerk, orchestrated fraudulent activities that prejudiced the company by exorbitant amounts of cash 'FSPA, based in Newton Park in Gqeberha, trades as a business providing administrative and secretarial support to Sectional Title and Homeowners Association clients,' he said. Mhlakuvana added the company managed 82 housing complexes in the Gqeberha region, with part of its daily functions involving the maintenance of bank accounts and general ledgers for each complex. 'The various bank accounts were managed through a joint trust account,' he said. 'Levies for each of the 82 housing complexes were paid from this account.' According to Mhlakuvana, the fraud was discovered on November 2, 2022, when a complaint was made after a refund of levies to two different owners was paid into the same bank account. 'Probing revealed that Nortier had 17 different bank accounts in her name wherein she diverted monies that were due to the clients, thus prejudicing the company more than R1.6 million, hence she was arrested in August 2024,' he said. Mhlakuvana said Nortier appeared in court on the day of her arrest and was released on R100 bail due to her socio-economic status. 'Nortier made numerous court appearances until her conviction by the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on May 7, 2025, and the matter was remanded to June 19, 2025, for pre-sentencing,' Mhlakuvana added. Meanwhile, the provincial head of the Hawks, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, praised the joint investigative team. '(They) secured a conviction and anticipated a deserving sentence against the perpetrator as it would deter criminal activities in the province,' he said. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ In a separate incident, Syed Khurram Aftab, 24, was found guilty and fined R136,750 by the Gqeberha Magistrate's Court on May 5, 2025, for contravening the Counterfeit Goods Act. Aftab had been served with a summons by the Hawks in April 2025. Mhlakuvana said that on March 18, 2025, Spoor & Fisher Attorneys, a firm specialising in trademark matters and anti-counterfeiting, received a complaint about counterfeit Apple iPhone goods being sold at MOD Tech shop in Walmer, Gqeberha. 'Subsequently, the law firm surveilled the cellular shop to ascertain the ferocity of the crime,' he said. 'According to the reports, a representative from attorneys purchased the items and analysed them, which were proved to be counterfeited,' he added. Mhlakuvana said the lawyers conducted tests on the items, which represented Apple Inc., headquartered in the United States. 'The matter was officially reported to the SCCI of the Hawks for further investigation,' he said. 'On March 28, 2025, the investigating team of the Hawks executed a search and seizure warrant which authorised the investigators to search at the aforementioned shop.'
