Pre-sentencing reports due by September in the Ramaphosa, Mfeleng and Methi trial found guilty of defrauding Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund
Legal representatives for the three former employees of the Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund (CF) found guilty of fraud today told the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court that the outstanding Correctional and Social services reports will be ready in September paving the path for sentencing proceedings to continue.
The trio: Mr Maxwell Ramaphosa, Mr Samuel Mfeleng, and Ms Kgabo Johanna Methi were on 30 May 2018 found guilty for defrauding the Department’s Compensation Fund of R476 150, 58.
Ramaphosa and Mfeleng were found guilty on 10 counts of fraud and money laundering, and Methi was found guilty on three counts of fraud.
The Court heard today that the Correctional and Social Services reports of Ramaphosa and Mfeleng were outstanding and those of Methi have already been completed.
The three accused have been remanded in custody.
The three former officials of the Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund were found guilty of colluding with a physiotherapist Dr Jones Mothemola Modau by siphoning the Compensation Fund using fictitious claims and channelling the money into Modau’s account and a friend’s Driving School account which would later be shared.
Dr Modau pleaded guilty in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court and his fellow accused’s matter was transferred to the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court in a separation of trial.
Modau was handed multiple suspended sentences by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for defrauding the Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund.
He was sentenced to three years of correctional supervision (house arrest), but allowed to go to work and church. On the same charge of fraud, he was also handed a further three years - suspended for five years - on condition that he does not commit any theft or fraud during the next five years. On a charge of money laundering, he was sentenced to two-years suspended for a five-year period.
In another matter, Ramaphosa and Mfeleng were in 2016 found guilty for defrauding the Department’s Compensation Fund R2,1-million and were handed 10 years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years by the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court.
The sentencing proceedings will now proceed on October 25.
The Compensation Fund is a public entity under the administration of the Department of Labour. The Compensation Fund provides cover to workers injured and/or who contract diseases at work. – ENDS
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 697 0694
