The Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sentenced Themba Nyamela (33) to 12 years imprisonment for theft of more than R1.1 million from the South African Post Office, where he was employed as an acting branch manager, in Cedarville near Matatiele.?
The court suspended two years from the sentence for five years on the condition he does not commit a similar offence during the suspension period, effectively reducing it to 10 years.
Nyamela pleaded guilty to a theft charge after he was arrested following his dismissal from the Post Office, emanating from a disciplinary hearing wherein he also pleaded guilty to having stolen the money in three years, from 2019 to 2021.
“In his plea explanation, he stated that he had financial difficulties and could not repay loans when he started taking out the daily financial collections, which had to be banked for personal use.?
He also blamed his gambling addiction for his actions, as he had been hoping “to score a jackpot, cease to take the money from the employer and pay it back,” said National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali.
The former mail delivery man, who rose through the ranks to the teller and acting branch manager, was stopped in his tracks when his superiors started sending emails instructing that he deposit the outstanding amounts.?
“He ignored these communications until he admitted to his area manager that there was no money to deposit, and he was not in a position to pay it back,” Tyali added.
Even though the State Advocate Neziswa September argued for the imposition of the prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years for theft of amounts over R500 000, the court found that there were compelling circumstances for deviation, including the fact that Nyamela pleaded guilty. His pensions were to be forfeited to the South African Post Office.
Accepting the sentence, Eastern Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Barry Madolo commended the prosecutor and the investigating officer for their roles in ensuring that justice is served.
