KEY POINTS
- A prosecutor is accused of fraudulently diverting R700,000 ($37,968) through fake maintenance claims.
- The suspect was initially arrested in 2021 but is now facing renewed charges.
- Authorities have pledged stricter oversight to prevent future fraud cases.
A 50-year-old prosecutor, Kholosa Qupha, is facing fraud charges related to an alleged scheme that drained R700,000 ($37,968) from the Department of Justice.
The case, which dates back to 2012, revolves around bogus maintenance claims processed at the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court.
Authorities claim that Qupha and her co-accused falsified case files to divert funds meant for maintenance payments.
This led to an extensive investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Unit, culminating in her arrest in 2021 in Plettenberg Bay.
Court proceedings and legal setbacks
After her arrest, Qupha appeared before the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court and was released on warning.
However, she did not plead guilty, leading the court to separate the trials.
Eventually, her case was struck off the roll, but investigations continued, uncovering more evidence against her.
According to IOL, with the fresh findings, Qupha has now been served with a summons and is expected to appear in court again on March 31, 2025.
Meanwhile, two of her co-accused, Patricia Nobantu Xaki and Victoria Noyolo, were convicted and fined in 2021.
Department fights back against corruption
The investigation demonstrates that corruption runs deep through administrative systems within the Department of Justice.
The Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana declared that financial crimes against public trust damage confidence in legal system operations.
The department now operates tighter control systems to stop additional fraudulent operations from happening.
Despite these concerns, authorities still need to understand how corruption at the government agency level could affect other systems in place.
