The six former employees and a Physiotherapist alleged to have defrauded the Department of Labour’s (DoL) Compensation Fund (CF) are to appear in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Monday (February 13).
The alleged accused are: Maxwell Ramaphosa, Samuel Mfeleng, Kgabo Methi, Debbie Venter, Tendani Mukomafhedzi and Billy Ramskin - who are all former employees of the Department of Labour – and Physiotherapist Abel Diokana.
The accused last appeared on January 26 and their matter was postponed because Ramaphosa fired his lawyer on the eve of his appearance, due to undisclosed reasons. He and Mfeleng, who also did not have a legal representation, have been allowed time to apply for legal representation with the Legal Aid Board.
The defendants face four counts of fraud and two counts of money laundering amounting to about R1 million. The accused are out on a warning.
The six former employees of the DoL are alleged to have conspired and recruited Diokana to submit his practice number and banking details for fraudulent payments to be made to him from CF. Fictitious claims were created on the CF’s internal system and completed and approved by the above mentioned employees of the Fund.
Money was funnelled into one of his personal (Diokana’s) account and the other into a Driving School account of the friend of Ramaphosa and some were funnelled into Mfeleng’s wife to disguise the location thereof.
It is alleged that Diokana would later withdraw some of the money and transfer it over to his fellow six co-accused. The accused would allegedly contact each other to meet at a specific location to share the money.
The Physiotherapist (Diokana) is alleged to have made claims for services not rendered. His co-accused are also allegedly accused of acting in furtherance of common purpose, unlawfully, falsely and with intent to defraud the Department of Labour and its employees.
The accused are alleged to have thus benefited from proceeds of unlawful activity. If found guilty, they face a maximum fine of R100 000 or imprisonment of up to 30 years.
The Compensation Fund is a public entity under the administration of the Department of Labour. The fund serves to compensate workers for disability, illness and death resulting from work-related injuries and diseases.
“G7” to appear for allegedly defrauding Department of Labour (DoL)
