Two nurses from Bambisana Hospital in Lusikisiki, Gladys Ntlawuzana-Komboyi (48) and Nwabisa Godlwana (36), along with their two relatives, Mantshangase Abigail Godlwana (59) and Gcobisa Godlwana (22) briefly appeared before the Mthatha Specialized Commercial Crime Court on September 12, for allegations of fraud and corruption.
They were all released on R3 000 bail each.
According to Hawks Warrant Officer, Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, their case was remanded to October 9 for them to be added as accomplices.
He said Ntlawuzana works as a professional nurse at the maternity ward of Bambisana Hospital in Lusikisiki.
“Nwabisa is also a professional nurse at the Pediatric ward in the same hospital. Gcobisa and Mantshangase are civilians and were identified as close relatives of Nwabisa.
It is alleged that Ntlawuzana fraudulently registered the birth of twins at Bambisana Hospital as requested by Nwabisa, who was working at Paediatrics in the same hospital, on November 18, 2022,” said Mhlakuvana.
He added that an application for a birth certificate was made at the Flagstaff Department of Home Affairs by Gcobisa under the pretense that she was the mother of the twins on November 29, 2022.
Mhlakuvana said it is further revealed that Mantshangase, the biological mother of Gcobisa, intentionally applied for a Child Support Grant (CSG) from the South African Security Agency (SASSA) at Bizana on behalf of Gcobisa.
“The allegations came after the other patron went to Bizana Home Affairs to register a fraudulent birth certificate of a non-existing child, and the department picked up some discrepancies even about this matter of the Godlwana family. The matter was then referred to the Hawks for further investigation. The investigation revealed that the CSG made the pay-out to the applicant Mantshangase, and the total amount she received was R4 892.”
Mhlakuvana added that the investigation divulged that the twins who were fraudulently registered at Home Affairs and received CSG pay-out did not exist at all.
He said all four accused were ultimately arrested by the Bizana-based Serious Corruption Investigation team of the Hawks on September 11, 2023.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in the Eastern Cape, Major General Obed Ngwenya, has welcomed the team’s arrest and reiterated that no one is above the law and DPCI will continue to root out any criminal elements in their society.
