The case against seven people alleged to have defrauded the Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund was today (November 21) postponed by the Pretoria Specialised Crime Court to December 12.
The case against alleged accused has now been transferred to the Pretoria Magistrate Court. The alleged defendants are Maxwell Ramaphosa, Samuel Mfeleng, Kgabo Methi, Debbie Venter, Tendani Mukomafhedzi and Billy Ramskin who are former employees of the Department and a physiotherapist Abel Diokano. They face four counts of fraud and two counts of money laundering amounting to about R1-million.
The accused are yet to enter their pleas and are out on warning. The matter was postponed to allow Mfeleng and Methi to apply for legal representation with the Legal Aid Board.
Ramaphosa and Mfeleng are currently involved in two other separate cases. In one case they are on a bail of R3000 in a case held at the Pretoria Magistrate Court in which they are allegedly facing 15 counts of fraud and 26 counts of money laundering.
In the case their fellow co-accused, Jurry Sehunoe (33), a physiotherapist operating from Rustenburg in North West broke ranks and pleaded guilty to defrauding the Department of Labour of about R5-million.
Sehunoe is to be sentenced in January.
In another case Ramaphosa and Mfeleng are scheduled to appear in the Pretoria Specialised Crime Court again next month wherein they face charges of fraud and money laundering working in collaboration with co-accused Kgabo Methi and a physiotherapist Jones Modau.
The Compensation Fund is a public entity that reports to the Department of Labour. The Fund acts as a cushion to cover for workers injured or disabled at work or diseases sustained.
Enquiries:
Page Boikanyo
Cell: 082 809 3195
