The accused were arrested on Monday following a thorough investigation by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team.
The former chief executive officer (CEO) of AgriSeta Jeremia Sello Madiba, 58, and two company directors, Simphiwe Anthony Dywili, 44, Lerata Raphael Mokoteli, 39, made a brief appearance in the Kimberley Magistrates’ Court on June 13 on charges of contravening the Public Finance Management Act, fraud, corruption and money laundering.
Hawks spokesperson Nomthandazo Mnisi said the director of Business Against Crime (BAC) (Dywili) allegedly submitted a fraudulent proposal to AgriSeta for funding of a gardening project between March and June 2016.
“A misrepresentation was given that he had partnered with the Dipalemo Company which is accredited by AgriSeta for the purpose of funding.
“The director of Media Engineering and Office Solution, (Mokoteli) allegedly acted as if he had the mandate from Dipalemo to enter into partnership with BAC for the use of its accreditation certificate with AgriSeta ,whereas he was not a member of Dipalemo.”
She added that the former CEO of AgriSeta (Madiba) failed to comply with the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act in relation to the approval of the discretionary grant relating to the agreement between AgriSeta and BAC.
“As a result of Dywili’s alleged misrepresentation, AgriSeta granted funding of approximately R1.9 million to BAC.”
Mnisi said the accused were arrested on Monday following a thorough investigation by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team.
“All suspects were granted R5 000 bail each and the case has been postponed to August 1.”
