Asikhutulisane former board member arrested for embezzling E49 500

By Bahle Gama

Former Asikhutulisane Properties Board Member Sibongile Gamedze nee Magagula has been arrested and charged with three counts of theft after she allegedly stole over E49 000 from the organisation’s bank account.

The 53-year-old was reportedly entrusted with duties as a signatory on Asikhutulisane accounts held at FNB at the time. She allegedly made her first theft on August 10, 2020, where she transferred E2 500 unlawfully.

On the 25th of the same month, she made a transfer of E25 000 through online banking. The following month on September 25, 2020, Gamedze allegedly made another transfer of E22 000.

Appearing before Magistrate Lenhle Zulu on Tuesday, the crown moved an application to have Gamedze remanded back to police custody pending committal at the High Court. She is set to return to court on February 17 for remand.

Asikhutulisane Properties is a subsidiary company of Asikhutulisane Savings and credit cooperative Society which was formed in 1982 and registered in 1982 under the Cooperative Act of 1964.

Asikhutulisane It is 100 per cent owned by its members and membership is open to all members of the public above the age of 18 years: Civil servants, self-employed, pensioners, and the youth at large.

Asikhutulisane’s core business includes mobilising services, granting loans to members, undertaking investment, educating, and empowering its members.