An intriguing tale of the theft of more than 100 million rand from ABSA bank, involving murder, and the arrest of six people including a traditional healer – is unfolding in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, Johannesburg.
On Thursday, 43-year-old traditional healer, Khumbulani Elvis Ntombela – also known as “Mabalengwe” and 29-year-old Nonelwa Nondlazi, were in the dock for their part in the theft of more than 100 million rand from ABSA.
Nondlazi was the former partner of the main suspect – the late Xolela Masebeni.
The money was stolen from a Sandton branch between September and December last year, when Masebeni was ABSA’s Specialist Engineer.
Masebeni fraudulently transferred about R103 million of ABSAs money into different bank accounts.
However, earlier this year in February, Masebeni was shot dead at his home in Ezibeleni in KwaZulu-Natal.
Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu said the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Johannesburg together with the Durban and Pinetown Tactical Response Team were tasked with finding the missing millions.
The team of law enforcers successfully traced and arrested the Melmoth-based traditional healer Ntombela.
Having caught wind of her impending arrest, Nondlazi handed herself to the authorities accompanied by her legal representative.
Investigators said they positively linked the pair to the theft of the ABSA millions through bank transactions.
The case was postponed to Wednesday, 18 May 2022 for a formal bail application. Ntombela and Nondlazi were remanded in custody.
In another related development, the investigation team nabbed and charged a sixth suspect – a 24-year-old female.
The woman is said to be the partner of another accused 29-year-old Gershom Matomane, a director of the Western Cape-based company, Maduna Gubevu Projects Trading (PTY) Ltd.
Matomane – the third accused – was arrested in January this year together with the second accused, 21-year-old Athembile Mpani.
Both Matomane and Mpani were released on R30 000 and R50 000 bail.
They are expected back in court on 30 June 2022.
