HAWKS WELCOME ADDITIONAL APPREHENSION ON ABSA’S MISSING MILLIONS ALLEGATIONS

GAUTENG – Two accused, a male and a female appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court today, 12 May 2022 on charges of fraud, theft and money laundering related to the alleged stolen R103 million from ABSA.
The accused’s apprehension emanated from the alleged ABSA’s missing millions reportedly swindled by the late Xolela Masebeni, who was, at the time, the ABSA’s Specialist Engineer at a Sandton branch between September and December last year.
The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Johannesburg together with the Durban and Pinetown Tactical Response Team successfully traced and arrested the Melmoth based traditional healer, Khumbulani Elvis Ntombela (43) also known as “Mabalengwe”. The late Masebeni’s former partner, Nonelwa Nondlazi (29) handed herself in to the authorities accompanied by her legal representative.
Authorities subsequently charged both Ntombela and Nondlazi with fraud, theft and money laundering on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
It was reported that Masebeni, who was shot and killed in February at his home in Ezibeleni in KwaZulu-Natal province, fraudulently transferred approximately R103 million into different bank accounts for the stated period. The latest pair was positively linked through bank transactions where they allegedly benefited from the reported ABSA’s stolen millions.
Meanwhile, subsequent to court proceedings adjournment, the investigation team nabbed and charged the sixth accused, a 24-year-old female and partner of the third accused, Gershom Matomane (29) who was a director of the Western Cape based company, Maduna Gubevu Projects Trading (PTY) Ltd.
Matomane was arrested in January this year together with the second accused, Athembile Mpani (21), Masebeni’s partner for the same charges. Both Matomane and Mpani were each released on R30 000 and R50 000 bail. They are expected back in court on 30 June 2022.
The court remanded both Ntombela and Nondlazi in custody and the case was postponed to Wednesday, 18 May 2022 for a formal bail application.
As a result, the latest suspect is expected to appear in the same court tomorrow. Investigation continues and more arrests cannot be ruled out.