By Bahle Gama
A former Nedbank employee arrested for the alleged theft of over E300,000 has been granted bail at E100,000 by the High Court.
Mpumelelo Makhosazana Mhlongo was arrested on April 29 after being dismissed from work on March 11, 2024, for allegedly intentionally altering accounts designated to her and unduly crediting beneficiary accounts to a total amount of E337,236.24.
This was money in the lawful possession of Martin Gamedze in his capacity as the Central Processing Manager.
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Mhlongo was employed as a Central Ledgers Department Clerk at the Nedbank Matsapha Processing Centre.
Her duties included processing unpaid items, updating the balance of payment transactions, processing clients’ instructions, and clearing transactions with other banks.
She moved an urgent bail application at the High Court where she stated that she would enter a plea of not guilty during trial and her innocence would come to the fore “as I have not committed the crimes I’m accused of.”
Mhlongo told the court that upon her arrest she was kept at Sigodvweni Police Station and was advised she would be transferred to Mawelawela Correctional Services pending trial.
“I have never been kept in prison before, but I have a reason to believe that the conditions there are not conducive for a person who has unstable health like myself,” Mhlongo told the court.
Mhlongo said she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and concerned that it might re-occur as she would likely be exposed to harsh weather conditions at the prison.
She said she believes in her innocence, therefore, nothing could prompt her to escape trial, adding that she had known about the police investigations on her, before she was even arrested.
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Even so, she was never tempted to evade the investigation and, therefore, will not escape trial either once released on bail and would further disclose her physical address to the investigation officer.
Of the E100,000 bail granted to Mhlongo, she was ordered to pay E20,000 cash and E80,000 as surety.
If she successfully posts bail, she is expected to report at the Sigodvweni Police Station every last Friday of the month.
