Ex-Justice Department employee sentenced for stealing R45k in bail funds

The Komani Regional Court sentenced former Department of Justice employee Siyamcela Fudumele to five years’ imprisonment for stealing bail funds worth R45 000.

The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (SCCI) unit in East London, along with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), secured the conviction on 30 January 2025.

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Fudumele to repay funds stolen

Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Avele Fumba revealed that the 37-year-old Fudumele, who had worked for the department since 2015, “manipulated the system and misappropriated bail funds, resulting in a financial loss of R45 000 to the department”.

Fudumele was responsible for managing bail payments and fines through the Justice Deposit Account System (JDAS).

The court ordered Fudumele to repay R41 600 by 31 July 2025.

Additionally, the ruling declared him “unfit to possess a firearm in terms of section 103 Act 60 of 2000”.

Fumba said the sentence emphasises accountability within public institutions.

“This outcome sends a strong message that corruption and financial misconduct will not be tolerated within government structures.”

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has yet to comment on whether it will implement further measures to prevent similar incidents.

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Meanwhile, earlier this week, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) said it secured a court order to interdict the pension benefits of former deputy director-general of the Department of Water and Sanitation, Zandile Yvone Mathe.

 Mathe is now unable to withdraw funds from her Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) and Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) accounts.

“The SIU approached the Special Tribunal to interdict pension benefits after Mathe was dismissed following disciplinary proceedings based on SIU referral and took steps to claim her pension benefits.”

The SIU said the order is a result of its investigation into corruption regarding a contract for water pipeline construction in the Vuwani area of Limpopo.

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