Johannesburg – Nolutho Diko, 58, appeared at the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on Monday facing 12 counts of fraud and 11 counts of money laundering worth over R500 000.
Diko, who was a North-West University (NWU) professor and the director for the School for Education Management and Leadership in the Mahikeng branch, was summoned to appear before court following investigations by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit into allegations of fraud that took place between May 2016 and April 2017.
Hawks spokesperson Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso said that while Diko was employed by the university, she allegedly failed to declare that she is a director and founding member of Fabued College Co-operative.
“Unbeknown to the university, she allegedly submitted financial claims to the university under the name of her company, allegedly on behalf of external consultants and other service providers whom she alleged have rendered services to the university. Through investigations it was discovered that the service providers listed on the claim forms never rendered any services to the university,” Rikhotso said.
The spokesperson said that Diko allegedly signed those claims without declaring her capacity and without indicating that she is an employee of the university.
“She reportedly later channelled some of the funds to her personal account,” Rikhotso said.
The matter was postponed to November 28 for further investigation.
The Star