The Cape Navigator

EAST LONDON – In a significant development, Zukiswa Wana (52), a government official, has been convicted and sentenced by the East London Regional Court on charges of fraud and money laundering. The conviction follows an intensive investigation and subsequent arrest by the East London Serious Corruption Investigation of the Hawks.

The case dates back to October 2012 when the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education in Zwelitsha received an internal memo exposing improper payments to two service providers for school hostel catering services. The memo revealed that payments were made without actual services being rendered, and apparent forgeries were used to authorize these transactions. The irregularities were traced to three unauthorized school hostel catering expenditure approval documents, totalling an amount exceeding R800,000, linked to the Cluster C District’s Development and Support office.

Zukiswa Wana, employed as a Personal Assistant in the District Development and Support Office for Cluster C, was identified as the individual responsible for the fraudulent authorization of these payments. Subsequently, the matter was referred to the Hawks for further investigation, leading to Wana’s arrest.

The East London Regional Court has now handed down a verdict, sentencing Wana to a five-year wholly suspended sentence. In addition to the sentence, Wana has been ordered to repay R410,000 from her pension to compensate for the state loss resulting from her actions.

Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya, the Provincial Head of the Hawks, commended the efforts of the investigative team in ensuring that Wana faced legal consequences for her actions. This conviction underscores the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combat corruption within government institutions.

Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba, the Eastern Cape SAPS Spokesperson, emphasized the significance of holding public officials accountable for their actions and expressed the police force’s commitment to maintaining transparency and integrity in public service.

This conviction serves as a stern warning to those who engage in corrupt practices, affirming that justice will be served, and ill-gotten gains will be reclaimed. The Eastern Cape community can now look towards a future where accountability and transparency prevail in the public sector.