FS Human Settlement fraudsters appears in court for ‘House Subsidy fraud’ amounting to R7.9m

BLOEMFONTEIN – Senki Samuel Ketlhoilwe (51) and Thwala Caroline Letanta (54) as well as Vincent Eric Beans (55) appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 16 August 2021 where they faced allegations of fraud, corruption and theft.

Ketlhoilwe was arrested on Saturday, 14 August 2021. Letanta was arrested on Sunday, 15 August 2021 whilst Beans was arrested in the early hours of 16 August 2021 by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team based in Bloemfontein. 

It is alleged that during the period of 2011 and 2012, three former officials from the Department of Human Settlement Bloemfontein, Ketlhoilwe, Letanta and Ketlhwoecoeng Mildred Setlaba who appeared in court on Thursday, 12 August 2021, attached to the Payment Authorization Section engaged in unauthorized and irregular negotiations with some of the service providers of the department outside their delegation in order to initiate irregular or corrupt activities.

They allegedly used the Housing Subsidy System (HSS) to identify old projects of the financial years from 2008 to 2009 which still have the remaining allocated budget. 

“They solicited and received gratification in the form of cash amounts from the service providers in exchange for the facilitation of falsified and undue claim payments which were processed through the financial processes of the department.,” a statement read from Directorate of the Hawks.

It is further alleged that the three officials, received over R520 000 from various service providers.

As a result of these false claims, the Department of Human Settlements suffered a total loss of approximately R7. 9 million. 

The case against the accused has been postponed to Friday, 03 September 2021.

Letanta and Beans were released on R2000 bail each whilst Ketlhoilwe was released on a R1500 bail.