Former Officials in Court for Fraud Case

Hawks spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Warrant Officer Thandi Tshabalala, confirmed that two former government officials appeared in court alongside Mduduzi Steven Mashwana, 43, the sole director of MPG Mash Trading. The trio faced the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on 13 March on charges of fraud and money laundering.

Their arrests followed an investigation by the Hawks’ Nelspruit-based serious commercial crime unit. The case revolves around a fraudulent land claim involving Ingogo Communal Property Association, which successfully claimed land in the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality, Gert Sibande District.

According to Tshabalala, Ingogo applied for farming equipment assistance from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. Senior Project Manager Mchunu was appointed to facilitate the process but, along with Nkosi, allegedly forged a letter appointing MPG Mash Trading as the service provider for the equipment.

Mchunu falsely reported to the national office that the farming equipment had been delivered, leading to a R1,358,040 payment from the department into Mashwana’s business account. Of this amount, R200,000 was allegedly withdrawn and given to Mchunu as a bribe, while R700,000 was transferred to Nkosi’s trust account.

Both Mchunu and Nkosi have since resigned from the department. Nkosi is already serving a prison sentence for a separate land claim fraud case in 2023.

The court has postponed the matter to 17 March for a formal bail application.