She was jailed for R3m bogus work payments - now arrested over alleged R1.35m fraud - IOL

Grace Mokoka, who was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison for paying suppliers nearly R3 million for work that was never done, has been arrested over an alleged R1.35 million fraud.

A 50-year-old former deputy director of finance at the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform previously sentenced to 10 years in prison for paying nearly R3 million for work that was never done has been arrested over an alleged R1.35 million fraud.

She was arrested by the Hawks in Mpumalanga on fraud involving funds intended to support a community land restitution project.

Grace Mokoka was arrested on a warrant in connection with a case registered in Nelspruit in 2018.

She faces charges of fraud, theft, corruption in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA), and money laundering in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).

Mokoka was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison for fraud and money laundering.

Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi said the investigation stems from a land restitution project involving the Ingogo Communal Property Association (CPA), which successfully lodged a land claim in 2018.

“Following the restoration of the land to the community, the CPA sought assistance from the Department to acquire farming and firefighting equipment.”

It is alleged that the project was exploited through a fraudulent scheme in which an invoice was submitted by MPG Mash Trading (Pty) Ltd for services that were never rendered.

“Mokoka, who was employed as Deputy Director of Finance at the time, allegedly irregularly approved a payment of R1,358,440 to the company without services being rendered and without following the required procurement processes.”

The investigation further revealed that the company’s director, Mduduzi Mashwama, allegedly submitted the invoice after being approached by Sikhumbuzo Nkosi, who had been appointed as project manager by Godfrey Mchunu, a departmental project officer.

Mchunu and Nkosi were arrested in connection with the matter in 2025.

Mashwama has also been charged in his personal capacity and as a representative of the company.

Nkosi and Mokoka were previously sentenced to 10 years’ direct imprisonment in separate but similar matters. 

They were both released on parole when they were arrested in this case.

Mokoka appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, where she was granted R1,000 bail.

The matter was postponed to October 26, when she will join her co-accused, who were also released on R1,000 bail each.

Nkosi said the investigation is being conducted by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation.

Mokoka was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison for paying suppliers nearly R3 million for work that had not been done.

The Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court handed down the sentence to 46-year-old Mokoka and her two accomplices, Zenzele Mncwango, 52, and Sikhumbuzo Nkosi, 45, in January 2023.

Mokoka worked as a deputy director at the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs when she participated in a fraud and money-laundering scheme in 2011.

The fraudulent scheme attracted the attention of the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation.

“Mokoka fraudulently issued an appointment letter in 2011 to a service provider, Thandi Mndawe of Sadia Trading. Mndawe had not submitted tender documents to render any services to the department when the appointment letter was issued.

“The company received an undue payment of R2 950 000 for services that were never rendered. Mndawe and her business partner, Mncwango, were later instructed by Mokoka to make cash withdrawals, followed by a couple of electronic transfers to another company,” Hawks national spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase previously said.

There were other payments that Mndawe was instructed to make to a government official, who also happened to be Mokoka’s husband, Nkwalase added.

This led to Mndawe entering into a plea agreement with the state, saving her from being sent to prison.

In 2018, Magistrate Sheila Msibi found Mokoka, Mncwango, Nkosi and Mndawe guilty of fraud and money laundering. 

Mndawe’s sentence was suspended, while the others waited four years to be sentenced.

“Grace Mokoka, Zenzele Mncwango and Skhumbuzo Nkosi were each sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for fraud. Three of the 10 years were suspended for five years with conditions.

“They were further sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for money laundering. The trio will each serve an effective 10-year imprisonment sentence,” said Nkwalase.

In addition to the sentences, the government fraudsters had their possessions forfeited to the state, Nkwalase said.

“During the conviction of the suspects, the court granted preservation orders of a double storey house at Kamagugu, seven vehicles and the pension funds of the convicts,” Nkwalase said.