According to the Hawks' spokesperson, Christopher Singo, the suspect was apprehended on Friday 14 October 2022 at the OR Tambo International Airport by the border police, following a warrant of arrest issued against him by the Hawks in Welkom. 

Singo says the seventh suspect will make his first appearance in the Welkom Magistrate’s Court on Monday to face charges of fraud and theft linked to the squandered R700 000 of the Brandfort Museum project between 2008 and 2010. The museum project was planned to honour ANC stalwart, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. The case against the other six co-accused, including the Head of the Free State Education Department (HOD), Tsoarelo Malakoane, was postponed to Friday 11 November 2022.

ALSO READ - Winnie Mandela Museum: Fraud-accused Free State HOD released on bail

“It is alleged that during the period of January 2008 to December 2010, money was allocated to the Brandfort Museum project, popularly known as the Winnie Mandela Museum, by the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture. The money that was allocated, was allegedly misused and the service providers were appointed without following the proper procurement processes. The project was coordinated by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and the Lejweleputswa District Municipality. As a result of these fraudulent activities, the department suffered a total loss of more than R700 000,” Singo adds.

The other co-accused includes Tsoareli Malakoane (56), Nontsikelelo Eunice Aaron (55), Lebogang Aubrey Sebeela (47), Monyane Matthews Sefantse (53), Errens Lodewikus Celliers (80) and Sithiwe Thubane (47), who were arrested by the Hawks on Tuesday 20 September 2022 and appeared in court on Wednesday 21 September 2022.

The department allocated money but it was misused with service providers allegedly having been appointed without following the proper procurement processes. The group also faces charges relating to the contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), and the contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).

OFM News previously reported that the current head of the Free State Health Department, Godfrey Mahlatsi, appeared in court this year over alleged tender fraud amounting to over R8 million.

According to Singo, the alleged fraud took place between 2011 and 2015, involving several service providers. It’s alleged the invoices the department used to pay out over R8 million to said service providers, were falsified and forged.

ALSO READ - #BreakingNews: Current FS Health HOD is in cuffs

Another former HOD of Human Settlements in the Free State, Nthimotse Mokhesi, and 16 others stand accused in the R255 million asbestos project.

ALSO READ: Former Free State HOD in the hot seat

UPDATED: The 7th suspect linked to the alleged fraud at the Brandfort Museum project in the Free State, or the Winnie Mandela Museum, appeared in the Welkom Magistrate's Court on Monday 17 October 2022.

Jan Harm du Plessis

Jan Harm du Plessis (41), who was apprehended on Friday 14 October 2022 whilst at the OR Tambo International Airport, made his first appearance on Monday and was remanded in custody. His case for a formal bail hearing is set to sit on 20 October 2022. 

According to the Free State Provincial Hawks spokesperson, Christopher Singo, Du Plessis faces charges of fraud and theft as a service provider, linked to R700 000 squandered during the Brandfort Museum project between 2008 and 2010. 

If granted bail on the aforementioned bail date, the accused will appear with the six other co-accused, including the Head of the Free State Education Department (HOD), Tsoarelo Malakoane, on Friday 11 November 2022.

The co-accused include Tsoareli Malakoane (56), Nontsikelelo Eunice Aaron (55), Lebogang Aubrey Sebeela (47), Monyane Matthews Sefantse (53), Errens Lodewikus Celliers (80), and Sithiwe Thubane (47), who were arrested by the Hawks on Tuesday 20 September 2022. They appeared in court on Wednesday 21 September 2022.

OFM News