Gonubie sister of suspended official weeps over raid.
AUTHORITIES have wasted little time seizing the belongings of a Gonubie woman whose sister allegedly swindled R2.5-million from an Eastern Cape municipality.
Thumeka Qongqo cried as workers, under the watchful eye of the Hawks, hauled fancy furniture out of her home yesterday.
Nyameka yesterday declined to comment, saying she would only do so after the investigation had been concluded.
AFU lawyer Marius Wolmarans confirmed that an amount of R1.2-million was in Nyameka’s bank account. He said the preservation order had been made to have the accounts linked to the alleged fraud and money laundering frozen.
Wolmarans said a forfeiture application would be made when all the relevant processes had been undertaken.
OR Tambo spokesman Phendule Mbewu said: “The municipality is digging deep into this to find out who else was involved. Now that it has been reported to the police, we are not going to talk of the details in case we jeopardise the investigation.”
Ndwalaza said the order was a result of a complaint by OR Tambo municipal manager Tshaka Hlazo to the directorate of Priority Crimes Investigation after noticing allegedly fictitious payments made out of municipal bank accounts.
Ndwalaza said the funds in Thumeka’s account were allegedly used through cash withdrawals, electronic payments and transfers to Nyameka’s account.
He said the Qongqo sisters will have an opportunity to oppose the forfeiture order.
“The preservation of the funds was made possible by the swift action and cooperation of officials of the municipality, the Hawks and the asset forfeiture unit in making sure that crime does not pay,” he added. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za / zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Hawks seize ‘illegal’ assets
AUTHORITIES have wasted little time seizing the belongings of a Gonubie woman whose sister allegedly swindled R2.5-million from an Eastern Cape municipality.
Thumeka Qongqo cried as workers, under the watchful eye of the Hawks, hauled fancy furniture out of her home yesterday.
Nyameka yesterday declined to comment, saying she would only do so after the investigation had been concluded.
AFU lawyer Marius Wolmarans confirmed that an amount of R1.2-million was in Nyameka’s bank account. He said the preservation order had been made to have the accounts linked to the alleged fraud and money laundering frozen.
Wolmarans said a forfeiture application would be made when all the relevant processes had been undertaken.
OR Tambo spokesman Phendule Mbewu said: “The municipality is digging deep into this to find out who else was involved. Now that it has been reported to the police, we are not going to talk of the details in case we jeopardise the investigation.”
Ndwalaza said the order was a result of a complaint by OR Tambo municipal manager Tshaka Hlazo to the directorate of Priority Crimes Investigation after noticing allegedly fictitious payments made out of municipal bank accounts.
Ndwalaza said the funds in Thumeka’s account were allegedly used through cash withdrawals, electronic payments and transfers to Nyameka’s account.
He said the Qongqo sisters will have an opportunity to oppose the forfeiture order.
“The preservation of the funds was made possible by the swift action and cooperation of officials of the municipality, the Hawks and the asset forfeiture unit in making sure that crime does not pay,” he added. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za / zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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