A previously little-known 43-year-old man, Jabulani Maluleke, has emerged as a potentially significant link in the State’s expanding money-laundering case against Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department officer Peter “Greater Gagash” Nonyane.
Maluleke, who is not currently before the Polokwane Magistrates’ Court as an accused, features in six new money-laundering charges that prosecutors allege involve the movement of R1.029 million between his First National Bank (FNB) account and an account allegedly controlled by Nonyane.
The allegations emerged on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, as Nonyane and his wife, attorney Charlotte Tibana, appeared in the Polokwane Magistrates’ Court for the continuation of their bail application.
During the hearing, state prosecutor Martin Molokwane applied to amend the charge sheet to add six money-laundering counts against Nonyane, increasing the total number of charges against him from 35 to 41.
The latest charges have introduced Maluleke, described in the charge sheet as an adult male known to Nonyane, into the alleged financial trail.
According to the State, Maluleke is the account holder and sole signatory of an FNB account through which the disputed funds allegedly passed.
The R1.029 million trail
Prosecutors allege that money from a bank account whose holder is not yet known was deposited into Maluleke’s account before being transferred to a Capitec Bank account belonging to Nonyane.
The State further alleges that R110,000 of the funds was derived from unlawful activities linked to the Kobe Estate, one of several deceased estates forming part of the wider investigation.
Molokwane told the court that the State believed the movement of money through Maluleke’s account was part of an arrangement allegedly intended to conceal or disguise the funds’ true source, ownership and destination.
The six transactions forming the latest charges are:
- Count 36: R110,000 allegedly transferred on 26 July 2026.
- Count 37: R260,000 allegedly transferred on 8 August 2026.
- Count 38: R240,000 allegedly transferred on 8 August 2026.
- Count 39: R145,000 allegedly transferred on 17 July 2026.
- Count 40: R198,000 allegedly transferred on 8 July 2026.
- Count 41: R76,000 allegedly transferred on 10 July 2026.
Together, the transactions amount to R1,029,000.
The prosecution alleges that Nonyane, Maluleke and other unidentified individuals acted with a common purpose in moving and concealing the money.
The State further alleges that Nonyane knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that the money was connected to unlawful activities.
Maluleke’s appearance in the charge sheet provides a new dimension to the investigation, which has increasingly focused on how misappropriated estate funds were moved through different accounts and ultimately converted into assets or transferred elsewhere.
R5.8 million allegedly linked to four estates
The latest money-laundering allegations come against the backdrop of a much larger investigation involving five deceased estates.
The State told the court last week that Tibana allegedly embezzled approximately R5.8 million belonging to four deceased estates.
The estates identified by the prosecution are the:
- Masha Estate — R650,000
- Mathabatha Estate — R1.1 million
- Maswanganyi Estate — R2.75 million
- Moetji Estate — R1.38 million
- Kobe Estate — R800,250
The allegations form part of the prosecution’s broader case against Tibana and Nonyane, who are facing charges including theft, fraud and money laundering.
The State alleges that money belonging to the estates was unlawfully withdrawn or transferred, prejudicing the estates and their lawful beneficiaries.
At the centre of some of the allegations is an attempted purchase of a luxury Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 in Pretoria in November 2024.
The prosecution previously told the court that approximately R1.75 million allegedly taken from Masha and Mathabatha estates was used in connection with the purchase of the second-hand luxury vehicle.
Tibana, who acted as executor of the estates, is accused of authorising and facilitating the movement of funds from estate accounts.
The case has since expanded, with prosecutors adding further charges against her.
From estate money to luxury assets
The alleged flow of money is now one of the key features of the prosecution’s case.
The State’s allegations suggest a chain in which money allegedly taken from deceased estates was moved between accounts, with some of the funds allegedly passing through third-party accounts before ending up in accounts allegedly linked to Nonyane.
Gagash’s public profile comes under scrutiny
African Times News previously reported that Nonyane had established himself as an entertainment promoter and prominent supporter of Tsonga music and culture.
On social media, he has presented an image associated with an affluent lifestyle, including clothing and accessories from luxury brands such as Gucci, Amiri, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Dsquared2.
He has also been associated with a collection of high-end vehicles, including a Ford Ranger Raptor, Volkswagen Golf 8R and Mercedes-Benz V-Class.
Nonyane has further showcased property investments, including a double-storey house in Mageva village outside Giyani, which he has previously said is worth approximately R2.1 million.
For prosecutors, the six new charges appear to strengthen the allegation that the disputed money did not simply disappear from the estates, but was allegedly moved through a network of accounts in a manner designed to make its trail harder to follow. The bail proceedings were postponed to Wednesday.
