TWO former State Theatre employees and eight co-accused appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday, 27 February.
Their matter was postponed to 3 April for docket disclosure.
They are facing charges of money laundering, fraud and theft.
Gauteng Hawks spokeswoman Colonel Katlego Mogale said the two employees allegedly siphoned money for their own personal gain as they flouted 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.
Accused number one, Mokgadi Gertude Mooka (37) from Mahwelereng in Mokopane and accused number six, Patricia Sibongile Mabena (41) from Mamelodi in Tshwane were employees of the State Theatre.
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According to Mogale Nokuthula Skosana (39), accused number nine was arrested on the 31 January and subsequently appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 1 February where she was granted R1 000 bail.
Mashao was arrested on Monday, 26 February, and subsequently appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court (SCCC) where he was also granted bail of R1 000.
In his affidavit, Mashao said being in custody has affected him emotionally and spiritually.
“I believe my unemployed wife and children are also affected by this and they all depend on me,” he said.
According to South African State Theatre CEO Sibongiseni Mkhize, accused number one, a former credit controller, was dismissed in 2020 upon discovery of alleged wrongdoing, while accused number six 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.
