Case against group accused of siphoning R5m meant for Life Esidimeni postponed to November

• Four people appeared in court on charges of fraud and theft in relation to R5 million meant for Life Esidimeni.
• The Asset Forfeiture Unit, Hawks and the Pretoria East Sheriff of the Court previously seized assets linked to the siphoned funds.
• The group appeared in the Randfontein Magistrate's Court - and are out on bail.

The case against four people accused of siphoning R5 million intended for Life Esidimeni has been postponed to November.

Kishan Jawarharlal, Dimpho Mafu, Itumeleng Moema and Nomawethu Kunene appeared in the Randfontein Magistrate's Court, where they face charges of fraud and theft. 

According to the State, the Gauteng Department of Social Development (DSD) deposited money into a bank account held by A Re Ageng (ARA), a Randfontein-based non-profit organisation (NPO). The payment was part of over R10 million paid to Life Esidimeni for the use of its facilities as a drug rehabilitation resource by the DSD.

"At the time, Life Esidimeni was being rebranded into the Life Resources Centre (LRC). ARA was supposed to transfer the money to the LRC, but the transfer was delayed due to a dispute that arose between the provincial DSD and ARA.

"While the dispute was being resolved, employees of ARA, namely Dimpho Mafu, Itumeleng Moema and Nomawethu Kunene, devised a scheme with Jawarharlal to allegedly steal R5 million," NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane previously said. 

During the accused's brief appearance, the prosecutor, Khulekani Mthiyane, said a postponement was needed because of the volume of documents the State had to share with the defence ahead of a pretrial conference. 

The matter will be back in court on 2 November - and the four are out on bail.

Meanwhile, at the beginning of August, the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the NPA, together with the Sheriff of the Court of Pretoria East, and members of the Hawks, seized several assets, including luxury cars from a property belonging to Jawarharlal.