LIMPOPO – On April 5, 2024, the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crime's Court sentenced Refilwe Maphuthi Molepo, an employee of the Limpopo Department of Education to a R60 000 fine or five years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years.
Provincial Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa says that in April 2012, a forensic investigator attached to the Polokwane based Special Investigation Unit received a proclamation for the investigation of serious maladministration in connection with the affairs of unlawful conduct by an official of the DoE.
“It was discovered that between April 2010 and August 2012, Molepo acted in the capacity of a director of her own company and rendered services to the department. As a result, she received payment amounting to over R430 000 without authority or disclosing to do remunerative working outside of public service,” says Mmuroa.Molepo was subsequently traced and arrested in October 2023. She later plead guilty to ten counts of fraud and Contravention of Public Service Act.
Acting provincial head of the Hawks in Limpopo Brigadier Alexander concludes, “There was wonderful working relationship between SIU, the Hawks and Prosecuting Authority for their efforts in ensuring successful prosecution.”