FORMER SA POST OFFICE BRANCH MANAGER APPEARS BEFORE COURT AFTER ARREST FOR ALLEGED FRAUD
The Delareyville Magistrates’ Court postponed the case of Reginah Kefilwe Tshabalala (37), a former branch manager of the Post Office in Delareyville, to 26 May 2023 for consultation. She was granted R10 000 bail and her case will be transferred to the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. She was ordered not to interfere with the witnesses, surrender her passport, report to the nearest police station every Monday between 06h00 and 18h00 and report to the investigating officer should she wish to leave the magisterial district of Delareyville.
Tshabala was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation on 26 April 2023 and charged with 68 counts of fraud and 68 of money laundering, amounting to over R1.2 million.
It is alleged that between 2020 and 2022, the suspect gained access into the post office payment system as well as the payment system for the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) fraudulently.
She reportedly pretended to be processing payments and transfers on behalf of clients and beneficiaries of both the Post Office and SASSA, meanwhile she would allegedly transfer a portion, or at times all the money from various accounts into two of her Post Office accounts.
Investigations into the matter have been completed and the state is ready to proceed with trial.
The Director for Public Prosecutions in North West, Dr Rachel Makhari and the Acting Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Brigadier Regeorgial Moos lauded the investigating officer and the prosecutor for securing the suspect’s court appearance and for the thorough investigation that will assist the state to present a solid case against the suspect.
