DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR OFFICIAL APPEARS IN COURT FOR FRAUD OVER R600 000

Photo: Crime Scene Logo

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By: Neo Ntsele

Keneiloe Christina Sefatsa 41, appeared before Ladybrand Magistrates' Court facing theft and fraud charges on Friday, 14.

Sefatsa was arrested in Ladybrand by members of the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Bethlehem.

Her arrest follows an investigation into allegations of defrauding a client of the Department of Employment and Labour an amount over R600 000 between 2016 and 2021 in handling payments made by the client to the Department.

Investigations revealed that Sefatsa, working at Department of Employment and Labour in Ficksburg, deceitfully sent a client an email, informing her that the Department's banking details have changed where Compensation Fund payments should be done.

The client made payments to the banking details as provided by Sefatsa from 2016 to 2021.

In 2022, the client approached the department requesting for a Certificate of Good Standing from the Compensation Fund and was told that her company was behind with payments for five years and is owing an amount more than R600 000.

She then submitted proof of payments to the Department.

It was discovered that the client had been making payments to a wrong bank account that was provided by Sefatsa.

A criminal docket was registered then referred to the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation for further investigation that resulted to the accused arrest.

The Magistrates' court released Sefatsa on R5 000 bail.

The matter was postponed to Monday 17, for first appearance at the Regional Court in Ficksburg.

The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in the Free State, Major General Mokgadi Bokaba welcomed the arrest and the latest court appearance of the accused.