Mthatha Burial Society Fraudsters Convicted Over R800 000

Four former employees of Thuso Fund Burial Society have been convicted and fined up to R40 000 each by the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for defrauding their employer of R800 000.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks, confirmed the sentencing on Tuesday after the court finalised the matter on 8 July 2026.

The accused — Nandipha Mfoboza, 52, Busisiwe Nondudule, 52, Faniswa Nobambela, 44, and Nommiselo Solani, 47 — were arrested on 18 February 2026 following a Hawks investigation.

According to the Hawks, the case began in May 2025 when Thuso Fund, headquartered in Orkney in the North West, detected irregularities involving bank deposit slips submitted by four Eastern Cape branches.

A forensic audit and reconciliation of First National Bank records against the company’s bank statements found that deposit slips submitted at the Mthatha Main Branch were “fraudulent and fictitious.”

“The investigation established that the deposit slips reflected transactions that were never credited into the company’s bank account, thereby concealing the unlawful misappropriation of company funds,” the Hawks said.
The burial society suffered an actual financial loss of R800 000.

All four were convicted of fraud. The court imposed the following sentences:
– Nandipha Mfoboza and Busisiwe Nondudule: Fine of R40 000 each, or 3 years’ direct imprisonment
– Faniswa Nobambela: Fine of R35 000, or 3 years’ direct imprisonment
– Nommiselo Solani: Fine of R30 000, or 3 years’ direct imprisonment

In addition, the court ordered all four to pay R5 000 each in immediate compensation. They must then pay monthly installments of R1 500 each, starting on or before 31 July 2026, until the full outstanding amount is settled.

The accused were each released on R1 500 bail after their February court appearance and made several appearances before sentencing.