0 of 2
Two of the three women detained by the Hawks on suspicion of stealing R13m intended for Eastern Cape land claimants are sisters of Funeka Malusi, the suspected mastermind and former director for quality assurance at the provincial land claims commission.
Hawks members arrested Malusi’s sisters, Nozipho Goci, 58, and Siphokazi Goci, 55, at their Mdantsane and Cambridge homes simultaneously on Friday.
Another alleged accomplice, Nonzame Jikityala, 27, was arrested at her Mdantsane home on the same day.
A fourth female suspect, arrested in the Western Cape, had been released as she could not be positively linked to the case, provincial Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said.
The three appeared in the East London magistrate’s court on Monday and were granted R10,000 bail each.
They are represented by East London attorney Henry van Breda of Changfoot Van Breda attorneys, who also represent seven other suspects in the case.
The state did not oppose bail as the accused have not previously been convicted of an offence and are not considered a flight risk.
Relatives of the sisters were present during the court proceedings.
Magistrate Rochelle Sam said they must return to the same court on April 10.
After the court had adjourned, Mhlakuvana said they expected to add more suspects to the charge sheet.
“We are expecting more arrests, we are continuing with our investigation. We already have 11 in our basket concerning this land claim fraud.”
Malusi, 57, (formerly Goci) allegedly paid millions of rand into her bank account, as well those of her daughter Chulumanco Malusi, 25, her helper Zoleka Manditsa, 48, and relatives or acquaintances Zoleka Mbinambina, 55, Avukile Gxalo, 54, Nokuthembela Hope Malgas, 45, Luvuyo Vika, 54, and Lungela Malusi, 46.
Vika is a Northern Cape-based construction entrepreneur born in Mdantsane.
The suspects are all out on combined bail of R100,000.
Malusi has since left her position at the regional land claims commission’s Beacon Bay office.
In July, she was reportedly suspended a day after she handed in her resignation, which was rejected by the department.
The investigation was fast-tracked by rural development and land reform minister Mzwanele Nyhontso, who instructed his director-general, Mooketsa Ramasodi, to look into alleged corruption at the Beacon Bay office after complaints were lodged by land claimants.
According to the court documents, Malusi was responsible for the final approval of land claims and allegedly changed the account numbers of beneficiaries to those of the accused between 2017 and 2024.
The charge sheet further alleges the other accused spent the funds on themselves, though some of the money was returned to Malusi.
The money was meant for claimants in Mxaxo location, AbaThembu, Skobeni, Dutyini, KwaLink, the Mbhems community, Ncora, Ohlsen Farm, Zozo, Mdlankomo-Moyeni, Umfanta, Thornhill (Ntabethemba) and Taweni, and many other areas.
Malusi also served as the land claims commission’s bid specifications committee chair and was employed by the commission since October 1996, when she started as a junior before working her way up the ranks.
Mhlakuvana said the elite police unit had strong evidence against the accused.
Daily Dispatch
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.