“These sentences underscore the NPA’s commitment to combating and prosecuting commercial crimes that undermine public trust and institutional integrity,” said Dr Rachel Makhari. She also commended Adv. Rofhiwa Mudau for bringing the matter to a finality.

 The Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting in Molopo sentenced Kudakwashe Mpofu, 33, in terms of Section 276(1)(i) of the Criminal Procedure Act, said North West NPA spokesperson Sivenathi Gunya.

The Hawks arrested Kudakwashe Mpofu in January this year. Picture: Hawks

The former CFO received an additional three years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that he is acquitted of fraud during the period of suspension.

Mpofu was arrested in January by members of the Hawks’ serious corruption investigation unit following probes into the use of a fraudulent South African permanent residence permit.

The court heard that in March 2021, the corporation advertised a position of asset manager based at its head offices in Mahikeng, said Gunya. “Mpofu applied for the post and submitted all required documentation, including a fraudulent permanent residence permit.”

Kudakwashe Mpofu. Photo supplied

He took up the post on 1 May that year and was promoted to chief financial officer on 1 June 2023. Investigations revealed the permit submitted by Mpofu had not been issued by the department of home affairs.

During the trial, Mpofu pleaded guilty to both counts of fraud. In aggravation of the sentence, Adv. Nkhetheni Mudau argued that fraud remains a serious and prevalent offence in South Africa, particularly within the court’s jurisdiction, added Gunya.

Learner’s licence bribery

“The accused, he noted, failed to disclose how he obtained the fraudulent document and benefited financially, earning over R3 million during his tenure at the entity.”

Meanwhile, the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court has handed heavy sentences to two former traffic officials from the Ashton traffic department and a private individual. They were convicted on charges of corruption after members of the public bribed them for learner’s licenses. 

The court convicted law enforcement official Karel Davids, Ashton traffic chief Andile Dondolo, and Jason Naidoo for contravening Section 4(1)(a) of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.

Kudakwashe Mpofu was welcomed to NDWC in 2021. Screenshot: nwdc.co.za

Senior state Adv. Thersia Du Toit led evidence that revealed that the investigation began when retired Capt. Kotze from the directorate for priority crime investigation in the Western Cape uncovered WhatsApp conversations during an unrelated probe into Naidoo.

These messages revealed Naidoo’s arrangements to secure learner’s licenses for individuals through illicit means at the traffic department in the small Boland town.

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