By Lumka Mahanjana
NPA Regional Spokesperson
The Pretoria High Court granted the Pretoria Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) a forfeiture order to forfeit to the state cash amount of over R1.8 million which was fraudulently swindled from Colliery Dust Control (Pty) Ltd and paid into an ABSA bank account belonging to Rodney Mokhabokhi.
On 10 June 2024, the Managing director of Colliery Dust Control (Pty) Ltd received a letter purporting to come from one of their service provider Transvaal Electric Motors.
Requesting the company to make all future payments to an Absa bank account belonging to Rodney Mokhabokhi.
Colliery Dust Control (Pty) Ltd made a cash payment of over R1.8 million.
However, it was discovered that the payments were made into the wrong account and in fact, the service provider Transvaal Electric Motors did not issue the letter nor change banking details.
It was at this stage that Colliery Dust Control (Pty) Ltd reported the matter to the police who informed the Financial Intelligent Centre (FIC) about the crime committed, Rodney Mokhabokhi’ s ABSA account was blocked, and the matter was referred to the Pretoria AFU.
The AFU applied for a preservation order which was granted on 05 August 2024 followed by the forfeiture order, which was granted on 17 March 2025 by Judge Mbongwe.
The next step is that the money forfeited will be paid back to Colliery Dust Control (Pty) Ltd.
This matter not only highlights the effective cooperation and collaboration between various crime-fighting agencies within the NPA, as well as the Financial Intelligence Centre but also the dogged determination of the AFU to make sure that crime does not pay.
The Criminal case related to this matter is appearing on 15 April 2025 at Springs Magistrates court.