Case of fraud against former Muvhango star and his two co-accused set to continue

A case of fraud against Doris Mthembi, Nelly Lekgetho and former Muvhango actor, Joe Ragwala (who was known as Ntshaveni on the SABC2 Soapie) has been postponed to 24 July by the Sibasa Regional Court in Limpopo, Capricorn Voice reports.

All the accused face 171 charges of fraud against Limpopo businessman Goddard Mugwena, who is also Doris Mthembu’s ex-husband, with money amounting to more than R1 million.

Last Wednesday, Ragwala and his co-accused girlfriend, Doris, requested permission from Magistrate Jackie Wessels to be excused so they can check on their house following a supposed tip-off from the Ritavi Police Station commander Willy Mushwana.

The tip was supposedly about a threat from Mugwena, who was thought to burn down their house in Nkowa-Nkowa.

In letters that were read in court, however, Mushwana, denied the allegations, and indicated that neither of the accused owned a house in Nkowa-Nkowa.

Wessels postponed the case to allow Mugwena to give his last evidence as he is a final state witness before she gives her final ruling.

Doris Mthembu allegedly hired two gunmen, Vincent Phakula and Moses Ntsenene, to kill Mugwena.

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According to her former house help, Mthembu asked her to summon Mugwena home so that the gunmen could pose as robbers and kill him when he arrives home but the helper tipped Mugwena off about the murder plot.

He then informed the police and arrived with them at the house, which saw the two gunmen being arrested for attempted murder.

Both Phakula and Ntsenene have already been sentenced to six years’ imprisonment each by Magistrate Johannes Coetze in Malamulele Magistrates’ Court in 2014. The two have turned state witnesses and revealed the names of the attempted murder masterminds.

The names of Doris Mthembi, and Joe Ragwala, James Ragwala (Joe’s father), Joyce Ragwala (sister) and another family member, Tintswalo Mhlari were put forward.

2014, Mthembu was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, but served only 18 months. She is now out on parole after she made an appeal.

Asked for comment, Mugwena said he was not happy about Mthembu being out of imprisonment before serving her full sentence.

“I want justice to prevail by her serving her full sentence. I was so shocked to see her outside after serving only eighteen months,” he said.

The trial is set to continue on 24 July at Sibasa Regional Court outside Thohoyandou.

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– Caxton News Service

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