06 Jun 2018

A Zimbabwean national accused of stealing P3.9 million from his late employer has pleaded guilty to multiple charges.

Bhekizwe Nkomazana was a gardener for the late Mr Solomon Tlhapane for 25 years until his death on September 1, 2016.

Nkomazana is charged with corruption, theft, entering the country through an illegal point, forgery of title deeds, obtaining by false pretences and giving false information while applying for a Botswana national identity card and fraudulently obtaining a Botswana passport under the pretext that he was a registered citizen.

When he appeared before Gaborone Regional South Magistrate Mr Chris Gabanagae on Monday, he pleaded guilty to all 10 counts he is facing.

On the contrary, Nkomazana’s 12 other co-accused who are all on bail pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The case has now been adjourned to June 21, 2018 for facts reading in respect of accused one. Nkomazana acknowledged to have forged documents of the late Tlhapane, acting jointly with other accused persons and defrauded him of his properties and hindered his burial.

Among the accused are two practicing lawyers, Mr Letlhogonolo Makgane, an attorney at Senamela Sekga Attorneys and Bhekimpilo Moyo, an attorney at Moyo Legal Practices.

In the past, Nkomazana had pleaded for separation of cases but it had not been possible as the lead prosecutor from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mr Relentse Mosarwana said he was not yet ready with summary of facts.

Mr Mosarwana had told the court that they had traced some of the looted funds to some South African banks, and that they were still awaiting authentication papers before they could make summary of facts that would kick-start the taking of plea and set the court in motion.

Nkomazana is alleged to have paid P12 000 bribe to Onthusitse Seoke, a senior registration assistant in order to be issued with a birth certificate using the names of Khaya Bheki Mazibuku. Seoke has also been charged with corruption for receiving the money in a personal account and issuing a birth certificate to a Zimbabwean.

Nkomazana allegedly sold Mr Tlhapane’s house and a plot and deposited the money into his account. 

The accused allegedly told the deceased’s children based in South Africa and UK that their father was well long after his death. ENDS