WeeklySA_AdminBUST: Hawks nab wanted alleged mastermind behind a Reconstruction and Development Programme fraud racket in Middelburg…
By WSAM Reporter
The Hawks yesterday tracked down fugitive Sfiso Johannes Khumalo to on a hiding place in Kabokweni, Mpumalanga, busting him in connection with a housing scam in which an unsuspecting group of home seekers were fleeced of more than R700 000.
Khumalo was previously sought for fraud linked to the Rockdale Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) in October 2020 and later rearrested by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Mpumalanga assisted by members of Crime Intelligence. On March 30 2021, he was released on R10 000 bail after making several court appearances. He later skipped bail and has been on the run since then.
During a previous arrest, Khumalo had been ordered to appear before the Middelburg Court on the July 24 2020 but absconded resulting in warrant of arrest issued against him, according to a statement from the Hawks.
Khumalo and co-accused Sylvia Nyandeni (43), an employee of Steve Tshwete Municipality, allegedly colluded to defraud applicants of RDP houses in Middelburg in October 2018. Nyandeni is alleged to have misrepresented herself as having the authority to receive money from the destitute applicants.
The defrauded victims were allegedly given Khumalo’s bank account to deposit more than R700 000, which the pair allegedly shared.
Nyandeni and Khumalo were summoned to appear before the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on July 24 2020, but only Nyandeni managed to honour the court appearance while Khumalo submitted a sick note stating that he was not feeling well. The court ordered that Khumalo appear alongside Nyandeni on the follow-up date which was scheduled for August 20 2020, but once again absconded.
His co accused Sylvia Nyandeni (43) appeared in Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on March 23 2022 without him. The case was postponed to May 4 2022 to locate Khumalo and it was further postponed to end of May as he was not yet found.
Mpumalanga’s provincial head of the Directorate For Priority Crime Investigation, Major-General Zodwa Mokoena yesterday expressed his appreciation of the efforts by the investigating officer, assistance of media and members of the public for playing their part in locating Khumalo who was re-arrested from his hiding place last night. Major General Mokoena further assured the public that the police and judiciary would deal rigorously with anyone who try to mislead the court by false information in order to get bail. She confirmed that the accused will appear before the Middelburg Magistrate Court on Monday.
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