KIMBERLEY – A former senior executive of the Agriculture Sector Education and Training Authority (AgriSeta) was sentenced to pay a fine of R30 000 or 12 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty before the Kimberley Serious Commercial Crimes Court for contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.

Jeremiah Sello Madiba (62) was sentenced on Monday 24 August.

He was arrested in June 2022 by the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks), said Warrant Officer Nomthandazo Mnisi, spokesperson.

Fraudulent funding scheme exposed

During June 2016, a non-profit organisation named Business Against Crime falsely represented itself as being in partnership with Dipalemo Strategic Trading Services and requested funding from AgriSeta for an amount of R1.9 million.

Funding was received and mentorship took place. However, Business Against Crime fraudulently used the credentials of Dipalemo Strategic Trading Services to receive the contract. Furthermore, procurement procedures were not followed by AgriSeta in awarding the contract to Business Against Crime.

After several court appearances, Madiba pleaded guilty and was sentenced to pay a fine of R30 000 or 12 months’ imprisonment. The payments are scheduled as follows: he is expected to pay R20 000 by the end of 31 August and R10 000 is payable in instalments of R2 500 until it is fully paid by 7 October.

The provincial head of the Hawks in the Northern Cape, Major General Steven Mabuela, applauded the team for the excellent work done.

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