ALI MPHAKI
A DESPERATE woman was made to pay R7 000 by two brothers to secure a job at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, where they are senior employees.
This was revealed yesterday at the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court, where Joburg court area manager Monwabisi Sobahle and his brother Lulamile Sobahle, a senior interpreter at the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court, were applying for bail.
Sheila Mokoena, in a statement read to the court by prosecutor J Twala, who refused to give his full name, said she was approached by Lulamile, who promised her a job at the Justice Department for a fee.
Lulamile told Mokoena that if she paid R7 000 he would speak to his brother Monwabisi to secure a job for her. The court heard that by virtue of his position, Monwabisi has powers to hire and fire, and that after paying the amount, Mokoena would be shortlisted for a position as a security officer at the Protea Magistrate’s Court.
She is currently working as a security officer for a private company at the court but had wanted to join the department as a security guard monitoring surveillance cameras. Twala said Mokoena deposited a sum of R4 000 to Lulamile’s FNB account on August 3 and R2 000 on August 25.
The court heard that on August 22 Lulamile gave Mokoena questions and answers for her panel interview and that she was sent SMSes about developments regarding her employment.
Mokoena later informed the court manager of Soweto courts, Suzan Maluleke, about the alleged corruption. Maluleke informed acting chief magistrate Piet du Plessis, who reported the matter to the police.
The brothers, who were arrested by the Hawks last Thursday, were yesterday released on R4 000 bail each after spending a week behind bars. Their lawyer Mlungiseleli Soviti argued before magistrate R Matthys that the R10 000 bail demanded for each of the accused was unreasonable, considering the amount of money involved in the case.
He said Lulamile was earning R6 500 a month and Monwabisi R22 000, and that both had no previous convictions, had fixed addresses and were not flight risks. Soviti said both accused would plead not guilty.
Soviti could not say if his clients stood a chance of being acquitted, because the defence was still to receive the docket detailing all their charges.
“It would not be wise to comment about the case until we have all the details of what they are being charged with. We do not know where these charges are emanating from,” said Soviti.
The case was postponed to October 25 and both accused were warned not to interfere with witnesses or come anywhere near the Protea Magistrate’s Court or any courts under Monwabisi’s jurisdiction. They were warned not to have any contact with Maluleke and Mokoena.