TWO former South African State Theatre (SAST) Employees and six co-accused appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday, 13 December.
The eight were arrested on Tuesday, 12 December, following an investigation by the National Serious Corruption Investigation team.
Hawks Gauteng spokeswoman Colonel Katlego Mogale said the two employees allegedly siphoned money for their gain as they disregarded the Supply Chain processes.
“The two employees allegedly utilised letter heads of existing companies to create invoices without the knowledge of the actual companies but changed the banking details to those belonging to the suspects' relatives, resulting in the total amount stolen of R24 million,” she said.
They appeared for the first time and were given bail for money laundering, fraud and theft charges.
Accused number 1, Mokgadi Gertude Mooka (37) from Mahwelereng in Mokopane and accused number 6, Patricia Sibongile Mabena (41) from Mamelodi in Tshwane were employees of State Theatre.
According to the CEO of SAST, Sibongiseni Mkhize, accused number one, who worked as a credit controller at finance, was dismissed in 2020 after they had discovered that she had allegedly committed the crime.
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He said that Accused 6 resigned in 2019.
“We are putting our hope on justice that people will be made to account for what they did because they did not still against the State Theatre but against the people of South Africa, the money belongs to the taxpayers,” he said.
In court, lawyers of the accused negotiated for bail of their clients and the case was postponed to 27 February 2024 for disclosure and further investigation.
Accused number 1 was released on bail of R1500.
In her affidavit, she noted that she is unemployed and doesn’t have an income.
Accused number 2, Innocentia Buang Matseke (44) from Hammanskraal, was released on R1500 bail, and she also stated that she doesn’t work and lives with her children and sick mother.
Accused number 3, Abel Mashaba (37) from Mamelodi, who is self-employed, was released on bail of R1500.
Accused number 4, Dimakatso Francina Mashishi (38) from Soshanguve, Tshwane, was released on R1500 bail. She stated that she has a part-time job and earns R4000.
Accused number 5, Pauline Moraba Hlongoane (59) from Mmakau in North West, was released on R1500 bail.
She stated that she is unemployed and is taking care of her 16-year-old son, who had recently gotten involved in a car accident.
Accused number 6, Patricia Sibongile Mabena was released on bail of R3000.
Accused number 7, Dimakatso Beauty Konate (29) from Lephalale, was released on bail of R2500. She stated that she is employed.
