PIET RETIEF – The Hawks in Mpumalanga have welcomed the conviction and sentencing of Kwena Mohlala (42) from Gauteng Province to five years’ direct imprisonment for corruption and fraud involving the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
His sentencing on Friday stemmed from an investigation by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation (SCI) unit based in Secunda into a complaint received from an official at the Department of Employment and Labour in Piet Retief.
Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, spokesperson for the Hawks in Mpumalanga, said that Mohlala was convicted on all six counts in accordance with a plea and sentence agreement. He said an official blew the whistle after receiving a call from the accused on 1 February 2022.
Nkosi said Mohlala attempted to recruit the official into an unlawful scheme involving the processing of fraudulent UIF applications.
“Mohlala allegedly offered to pay the official a share of the proceeds after the fraudulent claims had been paid,” said Nkosi. He said the accused was arrested on 18 February 2022, after the Hawks conducted an undercover operation. “Mohlala was arrested shortly after handing over five fraudulent UIF claim forms to the official, who was acting as an agent during the operation,” said Nkosi.
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Nkosi said Mohlala failed to honour his bail conditions, including attending court appearances before the Piet Retief Magistrate’s Court, resulting in a warrant of arrest being issued. Mohlala was sentenced as follows:
Count 1 – Contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt: Five years’ direct imprisonment. Counts 2 to 6 – Fraud: 12 months’ imprisonment on each count.
“The sentences on counts 2 to 6 will run concurrently with the sentence imposed on count 1, resulting in an effective sentence of five years’ direct imprisonment. The court further declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm,” said Nkosi.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber has welcomed Mohlala’s sentencing. “Corruption and fraud targeting government systems undermine public confidence and deprive deserving beneficiaries of essential services,” said Gerber.
