Three former employees of the Gauteng West Department of Education have been convicted and sentenced for theft and fraud after creating ghost employees and siphoning funds from the department’s payroll system.
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela says the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sentenced Thaniso Ralethe 37, Kenneth Maredi Mothiang, 43, and Banyana Caroline Mokela, 50, following their convictions earlier this year.
Mavimbela revealed that the trio “whilst employed by the department between the year 2014 and 2015 fraudulently created ghost employees on the department’s payroll system and assigned those ghost employees to the Bekkersdal Primary School.”
Their fraudulent activity came to light when Bekkersdal Primary School submitted a request to the department to fill vacant posts, a process that prompted an internal review.
“This unlawful criminal act was uncovered when the school in question submitted a request to the department to fill vacant posts at the school prompting an internal review,” Mavimbela said.
Once the review was completed, the matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrests of the three officials.
“The matter was then reported to the police resulting in the three implicated individuals resigning from the department in December 2015 following their arrest,” said Mavimbela.
After being found guilty on May 23 2025, the trio received their sentences on 2 October 2025.
Thaniso Ralethe, was sentenced to three years imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that he is not convicted of fraud, theft, or attempted theft during the suspension period.
Kenneth Maredi Mothiang received ten years imprisonment, with four years suspended on similar conditions, resulting in an effective six years in jail.
Banyana Caroline Mokela was sentenced to an effective eight years imprisonment.
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