An employee of the Office of the Master of the High Court is expected to appear before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday following his arrest in connection with an alleged R11 million fraud involving 15 deceased estates.
The Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team, working alongside the SAPS Provincial Tactical Response Team, arrested the 53-year-old official, who works as an estate controller, on Tuesday.
His arrest marks a significant development in the widening investigation, which has already seen suspended attorney Charlotte Tibana, her husband Peter Nonyane, popularly known as Gagash, and other co-accused brought before court.
As previously reported by African Times News, the investigation centres on allegations of financial irregularities and the misappropriation of approximately R11 million from 15 deceased estates administered through processes involving Tibana’s legal practice.
The Hawks allege that the newly arrested official abused his position at the Master’s Office by facilitating the referral of deceased-estate clients to Tibana’s law firm. The alleged corruption dates back to 2023.
The investigation is probing allegations of fraud, theft, corruption and money laundering, with authorities seeking to establish how funds belonging to the deceased estates were allegedly misappropriated and the role played by those implicated.
The latest arrest has widened the scope of the investigation to include an official entrusted with responsibilities at the Office of the Master of the High Court.
Limpopo Hawks Provincial Head, Major General Advocate Gopz Govender, said investigators would pursue every lead regardless of the position held by those implicated.
“The Hawks will follow the money and pursue every lead, regardless of who is involved or the position they hold. No one is above the law, and no public office must ever become a gateway to personal enrichment,” said Govender.
The newly arrested suspect is expected to appear alongside Tibana before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
