A former employee of Standard Bank in Harrismith will know her fate when reappearing in the Harrismith Magistrates’ Court for sentencing tomorrow – Friday (05/05).
Thandeka Mlangeni (34) was convicted in September last year for defrauding a client of more than R1 million in 2020. The state postponed her sentencing from 28 November to the new date. Mlangeni was found guilty of fraud and money laundering charges in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca), as well as contravention of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (Ecta).
Her co-accused and boyfriend, Hopewell Mpanduli Daguma, is already serving part of a ten-year sentence for his role in defrauding a client of R1 million. He was sentenced in April 2021.
Mlangeni, currently out on bail of R10 000, has been appearing in court since 2020 following her arrest, together with her convicted boyfriend. Investigations by the bank’s forensic team and the Hawks’ Priority Crime Specialised Investigation team in the Free State revealed that the incident happened between January and February 2020.
Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said Mlangeni opened a fraudulent bank card using a client’s details, which was then used to transfer R1 million into Daguma’s fraudulent account. He said investigations revealed the fraudulent card was used to withdraw a further R500 000 from the victim’s account.
Daguma had his bail revoked after he was re-arrested for failing to comply with the conditions set. Singo said once released on bail, he sold the car he had purchased with a portion of the stolen money for R125 000.
