A married couple accused of defrauding the Twelve Apostles Church in Christ of R7.09-million appeared briefly in the East London Magistrate’s Court yesterday on 53 counts of fraud.
Zola Maziyana, who is also president of the South African Social Practitioners’ Union (Saspu), and his wife Zukiswa also face 123 counts of money laundering under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
The Sunnyridge couple was kept in custody overnight pending a bail application today, despite a plea by Maziyana, 44, for his pregnant wife, 37, to be released on warning.
According to a draft charge sheet presented in court, the church’s executive committee appointed Maziyana to investigate delays in payments due to the church from a Sanlam affinity financial scheme.
Maziyana allegedly misrepresented to the church that members of the National Prosecuting Authority or Asset Forfeiture Unit were assisting him in the investigation and needed to be reimbursed for their costs.
Church president Professor Caesar Nongqunga transferred R6.8-million from the church’s bank account and R227000 from his personal bank account into accounts allegedly held by Zukiswa.
The couple allegedly used the money to buy a Sunnyridge property for R1.08-million, building materials worth R203385 to build family homes in Tabankulu and Cungcwini, in the Mbashe district, and vehicles worth R320809.
The Asset Forfeiture Unit has attached the couple’s assets totalling R4-million in terms of a preservation order issued by the high court in Grahamstown.
After the couple’s legal representative did not appear in court yesterday, the matter was postponed to today for a bail hearing.
Magistrate Leon Kemp said that because the state opposed bail, he could not release Zukiswa on warning yesterday.
In a statement yesterday, Saspu expressed astonishment at the arrest of Maziyana and his wife.
“We know that all this is political. It has nothing to do with Maziyana as a person but it is targeting the organisation,” said deputy president David Kayingana. — rayh@dispatch.co.za
EL couple faces R7m fraud case
Zola Maziyana, who is also president of the South African Social Practitioners’ Union (Saspu), and his wife Zukiswa also face 123 counts of money laundering under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
The Sunnyridge couple was kept in custody overnight pending a bail application today, despite a plea by Maziyana, 44, for his pregnant wife, 37, to be released on warning.
According to a draft charge sheet presented in court, the church’s executive committee appointed Maziyana to investigate delays in payments due to the church from a Sanlam affinity financial scheme.
Maziyana allegedly misrepresented to the church that members of the National Prosecuting Authority or Asset Forfeiture Unit were assisting him in the investigation and needed to be reimbursed for their costs.
Church president Professor Caesar Nongqunga transferred R6.8-million from the church’s bank account and R227000 from his personal bank account into accounts allegedly held by Zukiswa.
The couple allegedly used the money to buy a Sunnyridge property for R1.08-million, building materials worth R203385 to build family homes in Tabankulu and Cungcwini, in the Mbashe district, and vehicles worth R320809.
The Asset Forfeiture Unit has attached the couple’s assets totalling R4-million in terms of a preservation order issued by the high court in Grahamstown.
After the couple’s legal representative did not appear in court yesterday, the matter was postponed to today for a bail hearing.
Magistrate Leon Kemp said that because the state opposed bail, he could not release Zukiswa on warning yesterday.
In a statement yesterday, Saspu expressed astonishment at the arrest of Maziyana and his wife.
“We know that all this is political. It has nothing to do with Maziyana as a person but it is targeting the organisation,” said deputy president David Kayingana. — rayh@dispatch.co.za
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