Page 11 - 11 April 2025

THE REPORTER 11 APRIL 2025 · PAGE 11

Eastern Cape woman sentenced for MASSIVE DRUG BUST

defrauding the Road Accident Fund
Police seize R51 million worth of

Written by Robin-Lee Francke (Journalist)
million. A total of R65 crystal meth in Eastern Cape
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has welcomed the
sentence handed down by the Cradock Regional million’s worth of claims
Court in the Eastern Cape to a woman who were blocked over the same Written by Robin-Lee Francke (Journalist)
period as part of a crack-
defrauded the fund. down on fraudulent and A 29-year-old man is expected to appear in the team recovered bags of
corrupt activities. Over the Aliwal North Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern crystal meth loaded at the
Thembisa Lawana Dakuse, facts and this almost back of the truck for which
38, was convicted of resulted in a loss of over same period, 1,138 cases Cape on charges of dealing in drugs. the suspect could not give
submitting a fraudulent R700,000 for the RAF. were referred to the South sufficient explanation to the
claim after an accident in She was sentenced to two African Police Service, while The suspect was arrested on vana said the team received police, leading to his arrest,”
Tuesday, March 25, during a
i n t e l l i g e n c e - d r i v e n
2018. 44 arrests were handed
years imprisonment which down. multidisciplinary team information regarding a Mhlakuvana said.
Dakuse submitted the same was suspended for five years. operation comprising of the truck that was on its way to
claim twice — the first time “Corruption continues to Komani Directorate for Johannesburg towards The drugs weighed over
alleging she had been “False claims have drained plague the organisation, and Priority Crime Investigation’s Aliwal North, allegedly 300kg.
the Fund’s limited resources
involved in a vehicle crash in and further strategies are we will continue to guard (known as Hawks) Serious loaded with bags of drugs. “A consignment of drugs
Motherwell, and the second against crooked claimants, O r g a n i s e d C r i m e weighing 314.45 kilograms
time, stating she had been a being implemented by the medical experts, attorneys Investigation, Aliwal North “A disruptive operation was with an estimated street
conducted to intercept the
pedestrian coming home Forensic Investigation and employees. A thorough K9, Aliwal North Crime value of R51 million was
from work at the time of the Department to curb corrup- process is undertaken to Intelligence, Aliwal North mentioned truck, which was seized as well as the truck for
accident. She lied that she tion internally and externally scrutinise the validity of each Local Criminal Record spotted and stopped when further probing. The suspect
could not continue working, of the organisation,” said claim, leading to the detec- Centre (LCRC), and Aliwal approaching Aliwal North made his first court ap-
yet she was found to be RAF Chief Executive Officer tion and deterrent of frau- North Detectives. central business district pearance before Aliwal
unemployed. Collins Letsoalo. dulent activities. All accident The provincial spokesperson (CBD). The police found the North Magistrate’s Court on
suspect inside of the truck
Dakuse was investigated by In the past three financial survivors are encouraged to for the Hawks, Warrant and requested a search. March 27, 2025,” Mhla-
the Directorate for Priority years, 2021/22 – 2023/24, report suspicious fraudulent Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlaku- During the search, the joint kuvana said.
Crime Investigation (known 37 claimants were arrested activities to the RAF with
as Hawks) who had found for submitting fraudulent immediate effect,” Letsoalo
that she misrepresented the claims to the value of R48 said. WORD SEARCH

Contraband smuggling attempt

at St Albans Correctional

Centre leads to arrest

Written by Robin-Lee Francke (Journalist)

articles to offenders, states:
(1) No person may without
lawful authority—
(a) supply, convey or cause
to be supplied or conveyed
to any offender, or hide or
place for his or her use any
document, intoxicating
liquor, dagga, drug, opiate,
money, or any other article;
(b) bring or introduce into
any correctional centre, or
A woman was arrested for trying to smuggle
place where offenders may
contraband into St Albans Medium B b e i n c u s t o d y, a n y
Correctional Centre in the Eastern Cape over document, intoxicating
the weekend. liquor, dagga, drug, opiate,
money, or any other article to
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e S e c t i o n 1 1 9 o f t h e be sold or used in the
Department of Correctional Correctional Services Act,” correctional centre; or
Services, contraband, Nxumalo said. (c) bring out of any
including dagga, a phone He said a case was opened at correctional centre, or
charger, earphones and Kabega Park Police Station. convey from any offender
unauthorised medication, any document or other
was found on the visitor and Eastern Cape police article.
confiscated. spokesperson Captain
Andre Beetge confirmed The incident comes a month
The visitor, who is the that a 58-year-old woman after the parliamentary
mother of a prisoner serving was arrested on Saturday. portfolio committee on
a 20-year sentence for correctional services
serious crimes, allegedly “It is alleged that she conducted an oversight visit
f o l l o w e d h e r s o n ’ s attempted to smuggle to correctional facilities in
instructions and brought contraband in the form of a KwaZulu-Natal.
contraband into the prison. small amount of dagga,
cellphone charger and During the oversight,
Department of Correctional earphones into St Albans committee chairperson
Services spokesperson Correctional Facility,” Kgomotso Ramolobeng said
Singabakho Nxumalo Beetge said. the committee was exposed
confirmed that a member of to how inmates smuggled
the public was apprehended “A case in terms of Section contraband and the systems
while trying to smuggle 119 of the Correctional they use. The committee
unauthorised items at St Services Act was opened and also witnessed first-hand
Albans Correctional Centre. is being investigated by how inmates use wire and
SAPS Kabega Park.”
Nxumalo said the incident ropes to conjure a conveyor
happened on Saturday at According to the Correc- belt to smuggle contraband
approximately 10.30am tional Services Act, offence in correctional services
during routine searching by 119, supplying certain centres.
officials.
“The incident was registered
with the SAPS for a criminal
case to be opened, following