Alleged Covid-19 funds thieves out on bail

By Libuseng Nyaka

Three men accused of fraud, Tlotliso Molaba (38) ,Lehlohonolo Class Motaung (38) and Lelokonyana Isak Letseng (44) have been released on bail on R1000 each and are expected back in the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrates’ Court on 11 June 2024.

They appeared before Phuthaditjhaba magistrate court following their arrest on April 26,2024.
According to Hawks spokesperson Christopher Singo, a preliminary investigation conducted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) at the Department of Employment and Labour discovered alleged fraudulent activities.

It is alleged that two companies known as Afrikhan Source (Pty) Ltd owned by Molaba and Motaung and Izuz Gibbor (Pty) Ltd owned by Letseng applied for Covid-19 Temporary Employment Relief Scheme (TERS) online on two different periods.
During March 2020 and October 2020, Afrikhan Source applied for Covid-19 TERS on behalf of individuals who were alleged to have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) made nine different payments to the estimated amount of R1 ‪396 053‬,40 to the company’s account between September 2020 and December 2020.‬‬‬

Lelokonyana Letseng

Meanwhile, during July 2020 and October 2021, Izuz Gibbor also applied for Covid-19 TERS on behalf of individuals who were alleged to have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The company also received nine different payments from UIF to the estimated amount of R101 555.92 between July 2020 and December 2021. It was further discovered that the applicants never worked for the two companies.

A case docket was registered and handed over to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team based in Bloemfontein for further exploration. The suspects were arrested in Bloemfontein and Phuthaditjhaba on 25 April 2024.
The case against Molaba, Motaung, and Letseng has been postponed to 11 June 2024 and they were granted R10 000 bail each.