A former health department employee convicted of faking his matric certificate to gain employment has been sentenced to two years of correctional supervision.
Sicelo Micheal Sonjica, 49, who worked as an emergency care officer, was further sentenced to five years’ direct imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that he is not charged with fraud, forgery or theft in that period.
Sonjica, from Mbizana, pleaded guilty in the East London regional court in November to charges of tendering a fraudulent matric certificate which enabled him to get an emergency care officer job.
On Tuesday, Sonjica kept his head bowed as magistrate Twanet Olivier handed down the sentence.
Sonjica, who was appointed on April 1 2015, resigned after the provincial health department decided in March 2022 to get officials to submit their original certificates.
He was arrested by the Hawks three months ago alongside Palesa Patient Molekane, 46, an ambulance practitioner in Maletswai (formerly Aliwal North), Nonceba Maggie Mpelwane, 54, a controller in Maletswai, Ntombizodwa Precious Sibidla, 43, basic life supporter in Burgersdorp, Lebuhang Eunice Raisa-Busakwe, 47, controller in Maletswai, and Sempe Johannes Mohare, 42, an emergency care practitioner, who also failed to submit their documents.
Attorney Mzekelo Mhlauli, in mitigation of sentence, pleaded for mercy for Sonjica, saying that he was a father of seven children aged between five and 29, and only the eldest worked part-time jobs.
Mhlauli said Sonjica was a breadwinner and important member of his family, who never had a brush with the law before.
“Even if we look at the nature of the offence and how it was committed, the only thing my client sought was an opportunity to be gainfully employed, with the understanding of the high unemployment ... and considering his family responsibilities.
“Even when he was at the employ of the department of health he never attended any disciplinary hearing and fulfilled his duties as required.”
He asked the court to consider the presentence report compiled by a social worker which recommended correctional supervision.
State prosecutor advocate Siphamandla Ngxokolo argued for a suspended sentence in addition to the recommended sentence.
Ngxokolo said Sonjica was convicted of a “very serious offence which is very prevalent in this jurisdiction”.
Ngxokolo said he took Sonjica’s guilty pleas as a sign of remorse.
In handing down her sentence, Olivier said the offence Sonjica was convicted of was rife.
She said she was satisfied with the facts contained in the presentence report and that Sonjica’s personal circumstances warranted correctional supervision.
Sonjica was ordered to report to the correctional centre in Mbizana on December 7 at 8am.
Molekane, Mpelwane, Sibidla, Raisa-Busakwe and Mohare also appeared in the same court on Monday.
Their case was postponed to January 29.
They remain out on R5,000 bail each.
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