Former Students Sentenced For Corruption After A Sting Operation

The Pretoria Special Commercial Crimes Court sentenced former Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) students Emmanuel Ramalata(30), Mpho Lesiba Kekana(35) and Nematshema Thanzielo(30) to 6 years direct imprisonment each for corruption. At the time of the incident in 2016, only Ramalata and Thanzielo were registered students, while Kekana could not register due to outstanding fees.

Earlier in the year in 2016, Ramalata and Thanzielo approached a security manager Mr Herman Thyssen,(now deceased) and introduced themselves as student leaders. They told him they have an influence on which security company can be appointed or removed. Therefore, if he wanted his company to continue working for the university, they can make that possible for him. Thyseen informed them that he did not have the powers to make such arrangements, but will arrange a meeting between them and his supervisor. 

The supervisor reported the matter to the police, who then set up an operation. A police official pretended to be the supervisor and met with Ramalata and Thanzielo, who made the same request they did to Thyssen. They said they needed an amount of R40 000, to ensure that their contract was renewed. 

Arrangements were made to meet on 15 November 2016, to finalise the deal and do the cash handover. On the set date,  the undercover police agent Ramalata, Thanzielo and Kekana met at Hotel 224 where an amount of R40 000 was handed over to them and they shared it between them. As soon as they left the hotel, they were arrested and the money was recovered on the scene.

The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the sentence and is thankful to all partners for their dedication in the investigation of this matter.

Issued by

Lumka Mahanjana

NPA North Gauteng Regional Spokesperson: DPP Pretoria

073 002 0000  lmahanjana@npa.gov.za