Johannesburg,South Africa

Hawks arrested Mmapitsi Virginia Seate who works as government official in North West province and she appeared in Mmabatho Magistrate Court on Wednesday where she was facing 45 counts of fraud.

The 51-year-old who is currently works for the Department of Public Works and Roads in North West as a Deputy Director committed that fraud while she was working Department of Human Settlements in North West.

According to Hawks,Seate was arrested earlier today by Members of the Mahikeng-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation.Her arrest follows allegations of fraudulent activities in the submission of claims for using her private motor vehicle on official trips.The allegations were brought to the attention of the Hawks by the Public Service Commission(PSC).

Seate has milked the state more than R100,000 through her fraudulent activities which began last year and ran for 10 months.

Hawks said between February 2023 and November 2023,Seate,when she was still a deputy director at the North West Department of Human Settlements,allegedly submitted claims for official trips she had undertaken to various destinations in North West and Gauteng Province.The department reportedly paid the accused over R119 000,00 for the claims submitted.

Hawks added it was revealed during the investigation that the accused never traveled to the destinations mentioned in the claim forms.Investigation further uncovered that her private vehicle was in Mahikeng on the dates she had claimed to have traveled to various destinations.

She made a brief court appearance and was released on R5000,00 bail.Her case was postponed to 02 December 2024.

Her arrest was welcomed by senior government officials working for the Hawks and NPA in the North West Province.

The Acting North West Provincial Head of Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation,Brigadier Silas Munzhedzi and the Director of Public Prosecutions in North West,Dr Rachel Makhari have welcomed the arrest and subsequent court appearance of the accused.They have vowed to strengthen cooperation and collaboration in stamping authority of the state and ensuring that rogue government officials are brought to justice.

Zimbabwean national arrested for fraud in Malmesburg

Western Cape police has arrested a 39-year-old Zimbabwean national on fraud related charges on Tuesday,12 November 2024.

Police statement said the members conducted an intelligence driven operation at an address in Malmesbury,following information received about a male who is selling fraudulent cards,driving licenses and permits to members of the public.The team ensued with a search of the premises and confiscated cellphones,electronic equipment and counterfeit money.A 39-year-old male was arrested for fraud,possession of counterfeit money and contravention of the Immigration Act.

He will appear in the Malmesbury Magistrates' Court on Thursday,14 November 2024 on the mentioned charges.