The Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has sentenced Galela Mdlekeza (51) to 12 years’ imprisonment, without an option of a fine, following his conviction on charges of theft of Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority’s (PSIRA) funds.
The sentence was handed down on May 31.
Mdlekeza was arrested by the Mthatha based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team of the Hawks on February 7, 2023 for the said offence.
The internal investigation ensued in June 2021.
“The investigations revealed that during the period between June 2021 and November 2021 cash to the value of more than R970 000 which was supposed to be banked by him was never banked but instead misappropriated. In November 2021, he was suspended from work and in December 2021, he tendered in his resignation letter,” Mgolodela added.
The matter was referred to the Hawks in June 2022 for intensive probing which resulted in Mdlekeza’s apprehension on February 7, 2023.
He appeared in Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on the same day and was released on R2 000 bail.
Mdlekeza appeared in Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes court on numerous occasions until his ultimate conviction and sentencing on May 31.
“The team is once more commended by the Provincial Head Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya for being hell-bent in eradicating commercial crime tendencies that compromise the national economy,” Mgolodela said.
