The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development welcomes today’s decision of the Johannesburg Magistrate Court to sentence its former Senior State Accountant, Lovelock Modiba who together with Floyd Vumani (a supplier) defrauded the department an amount of R3,5 million. Modiba, who was based at the Gauteng Regional Office, fraudulently transferred money into Vumani’s company bank account for services which were never rendered.
Modiba was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for each of the 25 counts and Vumani was handed 5 years imprisonment sentence for each count of the 8 counts. These sentences will run concurrently. Modiba and Vumani allegedly worked with Godfrey Molefe (Operations Manager in the department), Tshepo Mosadi (former employee of the department) and Zanele Taleni (Service Provider), all of whom pleaded not guilty. The trial of Molefe, Mosadi and Taleni will resume on 24 March 2015.
The conviction means that Modiba will forfeit his R740 000 pension to the state as a punitive measure for the R930 000 he fraudulently acquired from R3,5 million that he and Floyd Vuma defrauded the department.
The department has adopted a zero tolerance approach on corruption and will continue to deal decisively with criminal elements even within its ranks.
Enquiries:
Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice and Correctional services
Cell: 083 641 8141
E-mail: Mediaenquiries@justice.gov.za
