MBOMBELA MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE AND TWO OTHERS SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS FOR CORRUPTION AND EXTORTION
The Nelspruit Regional Court convicted and sentenced a Mbombela Municipal employee, Dino Siboza (43), and his two accomplices Ernest Mamba (33) and Nkate Ngcobo (32), to ten years imprisonment each, for corruption and extortion. Mamba and Siboza were employed by a company contracted to Mbombela Municipality, to execute the duties of the reading meter boxes.
In December 2018, the accused went to the complainant’s house to inspect a meter box and found that it was tempered. On the first occasion, they instructed the complainant to pay them a sum of R2000, to avoid being reported to the municipality. It appeared that the first amount was not enough, as they then demanded two other payments, ranging from R3000 to R15000, respectively, but the complainant paid only R3000.
When the complainant realised there is no end to the demand for money by the accused, he then went to the police to report the incident. Thereafter, an undercover operation was set up, in terms of Section 252A of the Criminal Procedure Act. Siboza and Mamba contacted the complainant and agreed to meet him at Nelspruit McDonald’s. Upon their arrival, they were given three envelopes containing R5000 per envelope. After the meeting, the police approached them and were subsequently arrested.
The trio pleaded not guilty, and the state represented by Prosecutor Lazarus Rhabothata led viva voce evidence and handed in the application for entrapment, copies of the monies used for the trap, video footage and the gardeners’ statement. The complainant also presented a bank statement, showing that the money was paid to the accused, as well as WhatsApp messages from the accused giving banking details. The court found the trio guilty, as charged and sentenced accordingly.
During sentencing, Rabothata submitted a Victim Impact Statement, prepared by a manager of Mbombela municipality, whereby it was proven that for the year 2018/2019, the audit revealed that due to corrupt activities, the municipality suffered financial damage of more than R120000.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Adv. Nkebe Kanyane applauded the prosecutor and members of the police, who ensured that corruption is rooted out. She said, corruption threatens the economic stability of ourMonica
