Byline: Refeloe Letsoisa
01 October 2023
Martin Mandla Mlotshwa (61), was found guilty and sentenced by the Bethal Regional Court on Friday, 29 September 2023 for Corruption.
The sentence followed after a lengthy investigation conducted by the Hawks’ Middelburg based Serious Corruption Investigation Unit.
It is alleged that on 06 June 2019, Mr Mlotswa, who was employed by Sead public clinic in Emzinoni Bethal, demanded gratification from the patient who came to the clinic for termination of pregnancy services.
The male nurse introduced himself as Mr Sithole, and he told the patient that the services that she required would not be possible because the pregnancy was already at 12 weeks.
He then told the patient that if she could pay him R700 gratification, he could assist her.
The arrangement was made for the money to be paid.
The matter was reported to the police and further transferred to the Hawks for further investigation.
An undercover operation was authorized and executed, and the accused was arrested upon receipt of the gratification money on 02 July 2019
During further investigation, it was established that the real surname of the nurse was not Sithole but Mlotswa.
The accused appeared in court on several occasions until the matter was finalized.
On Friday, 29 September 2023, the accused was found guilty and sentenced to eight years of direct imprisonment by the Bethal Regional Court.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks applauded the Investigation team for their excellent investigation, which led to the appropriate sentence.
He further congratulated the prosecution for the appropriate sentence handed over to the accused.
This will send a stern message to government and private citizens to refrain from corruption, no matter how small as it might just land you behind bars for a lengthy time!