A Pretoria law firm whose name and banking details were publicly shared by fraud-accused Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) officer, Peter “Greater Gagash” Nonyane, has distanced itself from him and his wife, attorney Charlotte Tibane.

MAV Attorneys says it has no business or financial relationship with Nonyane, adding that its professional dealings with him were limited to a Road Accident Fund (RAF) claim which was finalised last year.

Its director Matimba Austin Vukeya issued a statement on Tuesday, August 18, after the law firm’s name surfaced in discussions surrounding the fraud and money-laundering allegations facing the couple.

In a statement, Vukeya said he had become aware of references to MAV Attorneys in connection with the criminal proceedings and wanted to clarify the nature of its relationship with Nonyane.

According to Vukeya, Nonyane was a client of the MAV Attorneys solely in relation to an RAF matter.

The firm said the RAF claim was partially finalised through the relevant legal processes during 2025, after which payment connected to the claim was processed.

Vukeya’s statement follows the circulation of a banking notification bearing the reference “MAV ATTORNEYS INC”, which Nonyane posted on social media on 4 June 2025. The notification was allegedly linked to the RAF payment.

Vukeya said the transaction was part of the attorney-client relationship arising from the RAF claim and should not be interpreted as evidence that MAV Attorneys had any wider business or financial dealings with Nonyane.

“MAV Attorneys Inc wishes to state unequivocally that the firm has no knowledge of, involvement in, or association with the circumstances giving rise to the current fraud and money laundering case involving Mr Nonyane,” Vukeya said.

MAV Attorneys further stressed that representing a client in a specific legal matter does not amount to endorsing or accepting responsibility for that client’s activities outside the scope of the mandate.

Vukeya said his firm remained willing to provide clarification to investigators or other relevant authorities regarding the banking transaction carrying its name.

Gagash’s flashy public image

The law firm’s statement comes as public attention continues to focus on Nonyane’s high-profile social media persona.

African Times previously reported on his luxurious lifestyle, which included expensive clothing, luxury vehicles, entertainment events and property.

Nonyane is also the store manager at Seventeen Lifestyle in Pretoria and has built a substantial following under the name “Greater Gagash Municipality”. The TMPD officer used his social media account to showcase a flamboyant lifestyle and a taste for fine things in life, including designer brands such as Gucci, Amiri, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Moschino and Dsquared2.

Nonyane was also associated with luxury vehicles including a Ford Ranger Raptor, Volkswagen Golf 8R and Mercedes-Benz V-Class.

African Times further reported that Nonyane had displayed a double-storey house in Mageva village outside Giyani, which he estimated to be worth more than R2.1 million.

It remains unclear whether all the assets and expenditure highlighted in previous reports form part of the Hawks’ investigation.

Alleged deceased-estate transactions

The criminal case stems from allegations involving money belonging to two deceased estates.

According to evidence presented by the state advocate during the first court appearance on Monday the state alleged that Nonyane and his wife who is an attorney by profession and executor of the two estates, Charlotte Tibana, acted with common intent on Monday of 28 October 2024 when they combined late Isaiah Masha’s R6500.000.00 with that of the late Jacob Mathabatha, R1.1 million to buy pre-owned Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 at McCarthy Mercedes-Benz in Wonderboom, in Pretoria, Gauteng.

The state alleges that money belonging to the estate was unlawfully withdrawn and subsequently laundered.
The allegations are yet to be tested fully in court, and the accused have not been convicted of any offence.

TMPD investigation

Nonyane’s arrest has also prompted an internal response from the Tshwane Metro Police Department.

African Times previously reported that TMPD was considering disciplinary action against the officer and had launched an internal investigation following his arrest.

The department has indicated that it is cooperating with law-enforcement authorities and maintains a zero-tolerance approach to criminality and misconduct among its members.

The Friday bail proceedings are expected to provide the next major development in the case, with the court set to consider whether Nonyane and Tibana should be released while the investigation and criminal proceedings continue. The couple held a lavish wedding ceremony at Mariveni Village in Tzaneen in September last year, just a month before the alleged money laundering.

After the wedding, Nonyane boasted on several of his Facebook lives that he had paid R150.000 lobola and a fresh cow to the Tibana Family.

Nonyane and Tibana are accused of misusing and laundering funds belonging to the beneficiaries of the estates of the deceased.

They appeared before the Polokwane Magistrates’ Court on Monday following their arrest by the Hawks.

The pair is expected to return to court on Friday for a bail application.