FORMER OR TAMBO MUNICIPALITY ACCOUNTANT SENTENCED FOR FRAUD

EASTERN CAPE – The Mthatha High Court sentenced Nyameka Qongqo (43) on Thursday for charges of fraud and money laundering respectively.
This stems from a 2014 case when Nyameka was still an employee at the OR Tambo District Municipality. She was accused of orchestrating fraudulent duplicate transactions where R9.8 million was siphoned from the municipality coffers and transferred to entities, Zingce Trading and Ogiyonke Trading accounts owned by her husband, Thobani Alex Ntshokovu (38) and her sister, Thumeka Qongqo (42) respectively whereas there were no services rendered.
The trio was arrested on 20 August 2015 and appeared in the Umtata High Court. The sisters were released on R10 000 bail each while Thobani was remanded in custody as he was already serving a sentence for another matter.
Ntshokovu pleaded guilty in January 2020 and was given a 5 (five) years wholly suspended sentence and a fine of R50 000.
Nyameka Qongqo was convicted on the 17 February 2021 culminating in her sentencing on Thursday 25 March 2021. She received a 15 years’ imprisonment for fraud and 10 years’ imprisonment for money laundering. The sentences are to run concurrently meaning she will be doing an effective 15 year jail term.
Meanwhile the matter against the sister, Thumeka Qongqo has been remanded for trial on 03 May 2021.
The Serious Corruption Investigation team is once more lauded by the Hawks’ Provincial Head, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya for the success.