The court sentenced Thembisa Lawana Dakuse for fraudulently claiming over R700,000 from the Road Accident Fund after a motor vehicle accident in 2018.
Key Points:
- Thembisa Dakuse defrauded the Road Accident Fund by submitting a fraudulent claim.
- Her false claim nearly caused the RAF to lose R700,000.
- Dakuse received a five-year sentence, with a two-year sentence suspended.
The court sentenced 38-year-old Thembisa Lawana Dakuse to five years in prison for defrauding the Road Accident Fund (RAF) of more than R700,000.
Fraudulent Claim and Initial Conviction
Dakuse submitted a fraudulent claim after a 2018 motor vehicle accident in Gqeberha. Initially, she claimed that she had been a pedestrian involved in the incident.
On April 4, 2025, the Cradock Regional Court sentenced Dakuse. The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation (SCI) unit arrested Dakuse in 2022. She appeared in court on the same day and later received bail.
Investigation and Red Flags in the Claim
Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), explained that Dakuse injured herself in the February 2018 accident on Umnulu Street, Motherwell. She lodged a claim with the RAF and received compensation for her injuries. However, Dakuse later submitted a second claim. In this claim, she falsely stated that she had been a pedestrian at the time of the accident. She also claimed that she had been returning home from work.
Furthermore, Dakuse claimed that she earned R93 a day from an employer. However, reports revealed that she was unemployed at the time. She also asserted that due to the injuries, she could no longer continue her work duties. Additionally, she said that the injuries left her unable to be employable again.
RAF Fraud and the Outcome
The RAF flagged discrepancies in Dakuse’s second claim. As a result, the RAF launched a deeper investigation. Mhlakuvana stated that the fund identified “red flags” in Dakuse’s submission, which prompted the Hawks’ involvement.
Investigations confirmed that Dakuse’s actions nearly resulted in a loss of over R700,000 for the RAF. Dakuse made several court appearances before the Cradock Regional Court sentenced her. The court handed down a two-year prison sentence but suspended it for five years.
This case highlights the importance of vigilance in preventing fraud within public institutions.
