The case against former employees including a physiotherapist alleged to have defrauded the Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund was postponed by the Pretoria Magistrates Court today (January 26) after accused number one dismissed his lawyer.
The lawyer for the alleged defendant Maxwell Ramaphosa told the Court that his mandate has been abruptly terminated by his client.
The Court has now allowed Ramaphosa and his co-defendant Samuel Mfeleng an opportunity to apply to Legal Aid for new legal representative(s). No reasons were furnished as to why did he terminated the mandate of his attorney.
The other defendants in the alleged fraud case are Kgabo Methi, Debbie Venter, Tendani Mukomafhedzi and Billy Ramskin - who are all former employees of the Department of Labour - and a physiotherapist Abel Diokano.
The former employees of the Department are alleged to be working in collaboration with Diokano channelling the funds into his account. Four transfers are alleged to have been made and later money was shared among the accused.
They face four counts of fraud and two counts of money laundering amounting to about R1-million.
The accused are out on a warning and will appear again on February 13.
Meanwhile, Venter through her lawyer D. du Plessis told the Court that she was going to implicate accused number one (Ramaphosa) in the case.
The Compensation Fund is a public entity reporting to the Department of Labour. The Fund serves to compensate workers for disability, illness and death resulting from work-related injuries and diseases.
Enquiries:
Page Boikanyo
Cell: 082 809 3195
