Fraud and Corruption rife in Sheriff’s Department
"We uncovered that she has been using these funds for personal gains for many years and nothing is ever done; she is obviously very well connected"
Yet another sheriff has been fired for alleged fraud and corruption, bringing the total to 15 this year alone, according to sources.
Ex-sheriff for Alberton, Ntombizodwa Seti, is one of a multitude of sheriffs who’ve allegedly been sacked due to cases involving fraud and corruption.
In Seti’s case, she allegedly stole R1.8 million and left 16 staff members without work and their pay; with no recourse to recover the money.
According to someone with intimate knowledge of the case, true estimates of her alleged theft are closer to R16 Million.
Germiston sheriffs have confiscated all of Seti’s available assets to sell by auction and recover some of the money; none of which will go to her staff.
Seti used to be a High Court Judge and is alleged to have set criminals free for a price. Furthermore, it’s alleged instead of her facing departmental charges, she moved to another position of power; where she was allowed access to a lot of money.
The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “The problem is that we’re not employees under the Department of Justice, nor the Sheriff’s Board. The sheriff hires us directly, which means that in cases like this, we have absolutely no recourse to get any payment – and this isn’t the first time it’s happened to me.”
According to the man, Seti purchased several properties and farms. It’s believed there’s a plan to sequestrate her and if so, it could mean that she’ll get away with her alleged crimes. “There are constant cover-ups like this taking place all over the place; just fraud and corruption everywhere you turn,” he said.
“That’s just the beginning. When a house is auctioned off to get back money that’s owed, it’s often sold for more than the amount owed and that extra sale money is supposed to go to the original owner of the house. But I’ve never seen that happen. What happens to that money? Does it go into someone’s back pocket?” asked the man.
”One can’t work as a deputy sheriff if you have a bad credit record, so these employees may often get into trouble after they’ve been denied their pay – because their payments will forfeit. The question needs to be asked why this is allowed to happen and why no action is taken? Furthermore, why is the system seemingly rigged in such a way so as to protect criminals, but deny workers from receiving their due income and ultimately, capitalising from a needed future livelihood?”
Tony Sanchez, attorney at law and director of Du Toit, Sanchez and Moodley inc. said he is planning to lay criminal charges against Seti. His law firm represented the bank when Seti’s cheque bounced, after making a payment for arrears on one of her properties. “Firstly, she used a checque linked to the fund account of the Sheriff’s department, not a private one,” said Sanchez.
“We uncovered that she has been using these funds for personal gains for many years and nothing is ever done; she is obviously very well connected,” he adds.
RECORD contacted the Department of Justice as well as the Sheriff’s Board for comment, but have received none by the time of going to press.
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