R1.35M Fraud: Former Deputy Director Grace Mokoka Arrested, Released On R1 000 Bail 

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Mbombela (Nelspruit) – The Hawks in Mpumalanga have arrested a 50-year-old former Deputy Director of Finance at the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform in connection with an alleged R1.35 million fraud.

The fraud involved funds intended to support a community land restitution project.

The accused, Grace Mokoka, was arrested earlier this week in connection with a case registered at Nelspruit in 2018.

She is facing several charges, including fraud, theft, corruption and money laundering.

The matter stems from a land restitution project involving the Ingogo Communal Property Association (CPA), which successfully lodged a land claim in 2018.

After the community got the land back, the CPA sought the department’s assistance to acquire farming and firefighting equipment.

Allegations are that the project was defrauded through an underhand scheme in which MPG Mash Trading (Pty) Ltd submitted invoices for services that were never rendered.

Mokoka, who was deputy director of finance, allegedly irregularly approved a payment of R1 358 440 to the company without services being rendered and without following the required procurement processes.

An investigation into the matter revealed that the company’s director, Mduduzi Mashwama, allegedly submitted the invoice after being approached by Sikhumbuzo Nkosi, who had been appointed as project manager by Godfrey Mchunu, a departmental project officer.

Mchunu and Nkosi were arrested last year in connection with the alleged fraud.

Mashwama has also been charged in his personal capacity and as a representative of the company.

Nkosi and Mokoka were previously sentenced to 10 years in prison for separate, but similar matters.  

However, they were both released on parole.

Mokoka appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, and was granted bail of R1 000.

The matter was postponed to 26 October 2026, when Mokoka will join her co-accused in the fraud matter.

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