KZN agricultural dept employee in dock for fraud totalling R4m
An employee at the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has been granted R10 000 bail.
This after the 43-year-old was charged with fraud to the tune of R3.9 million.
Sithembile Khumalo compiled orders and awarded tenders to service providers.
Prosecutors say she allegedly submitted fraudulent documents and invoices without rendering any services.
She has also been charged with corruption and money laundering, in a Durban court, linked to 11 contracts awarded by the Department between 2015 and 2016.
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Spokesperson of the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal Simphiwe Mhlongo says a former employee and five service providers were nabbed in March.
"The accused allegedly connived with her colleagues and the service providers to defraud the department.
"They allegedly compiled orders and awarded tenders to the service providers who were also well aware that no services would be rendered.
"Fraudulent documents and invoices were submitted as claims. As a result, the department suffered actual prejudice of R3.9 million.
"Khumalo was also granted a R10 000 bail and will appear together with her accomplices on 13 August 2021."
