A 50-year-old former Deputy Director of Finance at the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform has been arrested in connection with an alleged R1.35 million fraud case. Image: Supplied.
Fraud
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South Africa
Former departmental official arrested in R1.35 million land claim fraud case
The Hawks in Mpumalanga have arrested a 50-year-old former Deputy Director of Finance at the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform in connection with an alleged R1.35 million fraud involving funds intended to support a community land restitution project.
The Hawks in Mpumalanga have arrested a 50-year-old former Deputy Director of Finance at the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform in connection with an alleged R1.35 million fraud case.
Grace Mokoka was arrested on a warrant in connection with a case registered in Nelspruit in 2018.
She is facing charges of fraud, theft, corruption in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA), and money laundering in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
The investigation stems from a land restitution project involving the Ingogo Communal Property Association (CPA), which successfully lodged a land claim in 2018.
The Hawks allege that approximately R1.35 million linked to funds intended to support the community land restitution project was fraudulently misappropriated.
Mokoka appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on 29 September 2026, where she was granted bail of R1,000.
The matter was postponed to 26 October 2026, when Mokoka is expected to appear alongside her co-accused, who were also released on R1,000 bail each.
The investigation is being conducted by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team.
The allegations against Mokoka have not been tested in court, and she is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
