Mbombela (Nelspruit) – Law enforcement officials in Mpumalanga have arrested a 50-year-old former Deputy Director of Finance from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, who is linked to an alleged fraud operation amounting to R1.35 million.
This fraudulent act involves funds designated for a community land restitution program.
The accused, Grace Mokoka, was taken into custody earlier this week concerning a case that began in Nelspruit in 2018.
She is facing several charges, including fraud, theft, corruption, and money laundering.
This case relates to a land restitution effort initiated by the Ingogo Communal Property Association (CPA), which filed a successful land claim in 2018.
After the community regained ownership of the land, the CPA requested support from the department to acquire agricultural and firefighting equipment.
Allegations suggest that the project fell victim to fraud through a fraudulent scheme in which MPG Mash Trading (Pty) Ltd issued invoices for services that were not rendered.
Mokoka, who held the position of deputy director of finance, is accused of inappropriately approving a payment of R1,358,440 to the firm, despite no services being performed and violating essential procurement protocols.
An investigation revealed that the company’s director, Mduduzi Mashwama, allegedly submitted the invoice in response to a request from Sikhumbuzo Nkosi, who was appointed as project manager by Godfrey Mchunu, a project officer within the department.
Last year, both Mchunu and Nkosi were arrested in connection with the suspected fraud.
Mashwama faces charges both personally and as a representative of the company.
In earlier cases, both Nkosi and Mokoka received 10-year prison sentences for different but related offenses.
However, they have since been released on parole.
Mokoka appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, where she was released on bail set at R1,000.
The case has been postponed to 26 October 2026, at which time Mokoka will appear alongside her co-defendants in relation to the fraud charges.
