Couple with fake teacher qualifications convicted after defrauding the Dept of over R 1million in Mpumalanga
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Mpumalanga Department of Education has finally managed to get a successful conviction of a couple who have defrauded the department of over R 1million of pension funds.
The couple, Hlobisile Lindokuhle Mthembu and Bongisipho Robert Mthembu were found guilty and sentenced by the Nelspruit Commercial Crime Court on Monday, 16 August 2021 having worked for the department with fraudulent qualification documents.
It is said according Hawks Spokespersonin Mpumalanga Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi that the wife had in 2007, submitted fraudulent qualifications for primary teachers post and she was employed at Maphala Gulube Primary School.
Three years later, she recruited Robert who also submitted fraudulent qualification and was also employed at the same school.
He was later transferred to another primary school and as a result the department suffered an actual loss of another R584 815.78 on each of the convicts.
“The whistle-blower reported the information to the department and an audit was conducted whereby teachers were required to submit original qualification certificates but the couple did not submit.”
“In November 2016, the investigation ensued and the couple resigned. They were arrested in August 2018 respectively” said Captain Sekgotodi.
The accused were found guilty of fraud in terms of Section 18 (1) Act 121 of 1998 of POCA read with Section 21 (3) of GEPF 21 of 1996 and were each sentenced to six years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years on condition that they are not found guilty of fraud during the period of suspension.
