Justice trio held over R3m scam

Johannesburg - Three senior employees from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development have been arrested after they allegedly fraudulently paid R3 million to companies that have not rendered any services.

The officials allegedly abused the court system to enrich themselves using money meant for the running of the courts. They blew the money on gambling at casinos, buying cars, entertainment and alcohol.

The scam was uncovered by a task team probing corrupt officials in the department.

The task team works in conjunction with the Asset Forfeiture Unit and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

A Justice Department official said the task team was part of the delivery agreement with the Presidency to fight corruption in departments and in society.

Established in April, the team probes corrupt officials in the Justice Department, NPA, SAPS, Home Affairs and Correctional Services.

The Department of Justice officials arrested are a state accountant from the Joburg regional office, an operations manager in Soweto and an operations manager in Mabopane, Tshwane.

They allegedly deposited large sums of money each month into the accounts of people who do not work for the Justice Ministry, claiming they had rendered services between September and March. They deposited some of the money into their own bank accounts used by the department to pay their salaries.

Godfrey Molefe, 52, of Mabopane, Lovelock Modiba, 41, from Soweto, and Tshepo Mosadi, 34, of Joburg, were held and charged with fraud. Molefe is out on bail of R40 000. Modiba was denied bail and is still in custody. The suspects were arrested in June and July after an internal investigation.

The department obtained a court order to have access to the bank accounts of the officials who were suspected of involvement in the scam.

Another suspect, Floyd Vumani, 36, is expected to apply for bail at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.

The officials allegedly deposited money into his account for work he purportedly had done for the department.

A source close to the investigations said more arrests were imminent.

Meanwhile, Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has proposed the establishment of an anti-corruption unit to tackle corruption in the public sector and to clean up the public service at all levels.

Sisulu wants the unit to be established soon.

Earlier this year, she told Parliament’s portfolio committee on public service and administration: “It is only when we show the country that we are determined to deal with this scourge… (that we will) be able to create the necessary credibility… There are no shortcuts.”

Sisulu said she hoped the department could persuade the Treasury to make more funds available, particularly as the bureau would be able to save the government millions by cutting down on corruption and helping to recover money gained through corrupt practices.

The unit would conduct investigations and institute disciplinary proceedings, working with agencies such as the Special Investigating Unit, the NPA and Sars.

Criminal cases would be referred to law enforcement agencies. A case management system would allow officials to monitor progress of cases to ensure they were finalised speedily.

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The Star