SIU welcomes order for fraudsters to pay back the money

• Published date: 05 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed an order by the Special Tribunal ordering a former assistant State Attorney, two other individuals and Ntandokazi Trading to pay back over R4.4 million, with interest fraudulently claimed for midwifery medico-legal services.

On Wednesday, the Special Tribunal ruled that former assistant State Attorney Nosipho Zibani, Yolanda Tebogo Hlatshwayo, Phindile Zibani and Ntandokazi Trading to jointly pay the Gauteng Health MEC an amount of R 4 452 351,81 and a further R 135, 000 in fraudulent claims and damages respectfully.

The Special Tribunal also ordered the forfeiture of pension benefits to the value of R798 939,34 held with the Government Employees Pension Fund, which belongs to Nosipho Zibani.

The SIU was granted a preservation order for pension benefits on 10 October 2020, pending the finalization of the legal action.

The SIU investigation in the State Attorney revealed that between 2016 and 2017, Zibani, Hlatshwayo and Phindile Zibani entered into an oral agreement to defraud the MEC through the fraudulent medico-legal schemes.

Hlatshwayo purportedly issued invoices to the State Attorney in matters assigned to Nosipho as the attorney of record for the MEC when Hlatshwayo did not render such services. The invoices were purportedly in relation to midwifery medico-legal services Hlatshwayo rendered in the relevant matters.

Nosipho was employed by the State Attorney...