The Hawks in South Africa have confirmed the arrest and arraignment of Dr Nomsa Praisy Masuku, an Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) commissioner for allegedly stealing R1.2 million from a student fund.
Masuku, a former Standard Bank employee and current IEC official, appeared at the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court sitting in Palm Ridge after her arrest on Friday.
Masuku was responsible for managing Standard Bank’s corporate social investment programme (CSI).
In a media statement seen by our correspondents, Masuku was the head of the CSI programme for the “Adopt a School Trust”.
It was designed to offer scholarships, bursaries, and grants for study, research, or teaching to students from schools listed by the banking group.
Beneficiaries are drawn from individuals who meet the selection criteria for further studies at any notable institution of higher learning.
According to Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale, following a thorough investigation, it was discovered that Masuku was offering the funds to his family members and associates.
“Through an intensive probe, the Hawks investigators established that the incumbent flouted the processes of the trust by awarding scholarships to friends and family members through manipulation of documents and without the approval of the committee, with some of the monies deposited directly into her personal bank account to the tune of R1.2 Million,” said Mogale.
Masuku’s arrest comes after police launched an investigation into an attempted unauthorised entry incident at the IEC Gauteng provincial warehouse on Tuesday night.
Although nothing was taken from the warehouse, IEC national spokesperson Kate Bapela said the alleged perpetrators are unknown.
Two months ago, the police opened an investigation following a burglary incident on April 27.
The suspects gained entry through the front door. At the time, police said they did not know what was taken as the computers were still in the office.
However, Masuku has not been found complicit in the case of attempted burglary.