There was a dramatic twist in the tale in the alleged fraud matter involving six former employees of Department of Labour’s (DoL) Compensation Fund (CF) and a physiotherapist, when the defence team representing the physio requested a separation of trial today (April 9) in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.
The alleged fraud accused in the matter 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 a physiotherapist Abel Diokana.
The “group of seven” faces four counts of fraud and two counts of money laundering amounting to R949 175, 11. The accused are out on a warning and are yet to plead. The accused are alleged to have been working as a syndicate to defraud the DoL’s Compensation Fund.
It is alleged that the six former employees of the DoL’s CF, recruited Diokana to submit fraudulent claims which they would later process and make out payments which were later shared by members of the syndicate.
Advocate Johan Crouse representing Diokana told the Court that his client had opened negotiations with the State to grant his client a separate trial from the other accused. He said although this had implication in terms of time and money his client reserved the right to fair justice.
Legal representatives representing the other accused expressed their frustrations of further delays in the matter, saying “we are ready to proceed”. Magistrate Mariette Louw said the State would consider all aspects of the request and ensure that no party was prejudiced in the matter.
Diokana is not new to causing delays in Court proceedings. Last September he failed to appear in Court and his lawyer said his client was admitted to hospital on the eve of his appearance in Court. Magistrate Louw issued a warrant of arrest for the “no show”.
The matter of the accused has been going on since 2011 in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court. The matter was transferred on 21 November 2011 to the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.
Louw postponed the matter to April 26. The Compensation Fund is a public entity under the administration of the Department of Labour. The Fund provides cover for workers injured during work, illness and death resulting sustained during occupation.
