Hawks arrest department clerk over alleged missing public funds

A 57-year-old administrative clerk from the Department of Agriculture appeared in the Komani Magistrate’s Court on 8 May 2026 on charges relating to the alleged theft of public funds.

According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, the woman was arrested on the same day by the Komani-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks.

“She was released on a warning and will return to court on 26 May 2026, when the matter is expected to be transferred to the Komani Regional Court,” he said.

Mhlakuvana said the accused was employed at the laboratory during the 2023 and 2024 financial years.

“In her role, she was responsible for receiving payments from members of the public and depositing the money into the department’s official bank account.

“Investigators allege that some of the funds received from members of the public were not deposited into the department’s official account and were instead used for personal benefit. The alleged conduct was uncovered after financial irregularities were identified and a case was opened with police,” he said.

He said a Hawks investigation found that the state suffered an estimated loss of R60 000 as a result of the alleged theft.

Mhlakuvana added that the case was allocated to the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit following the discovery of the irregularities, which led to the arrest on 8 May.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation said it would continue pursuing cases involving the alleged misuse of public funds.

The matter remains before the courts.