Former Senior Official of The Nia And Former Pan Agent Arrested for Theft of R5.8 Million and Money Laundering
31 MARCH 2025
Former Senior Official of The Nia And Former Pan Agent Arrested for Theft of R5.8 Million and Money Laundering
The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), working closely with the State Security Agency (SSA), today arrested two former members of the SSA on charges relating to the misappropriation of State funds. They subsequently made their first court appearance at the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court and their matter was postponed to 23 June 2025 for pretrial.
Ntshavheni Prince Makhathana was granted R100 000 bail while Matome Solomon Ralebipi was granted R150 000 bail. They were both ordered to surrender their travel documents, should not have any direct or indirect contact with the state witnesses, should not leave their residential addresses with the exception of consultations with their attorneys and getting medical attention, should not dispose of their immovable assets and should report to their nearest police stations every Friday.
Ntshavheni, a former manager of the Cover Support Unit (CSU) of the then National Intelligence Agency (NIA), who as such was responsible for all its operations and financial expenditure, together with his co-accused, Ralebipi, a former agent of the NIA, are being charged on allegations of theft for personal gain, amounting to approximately R5.8 million in state funds allocated to the then NIA, which later became the State Security Agency (SSA), between 2007 and 2010.
Further acts of money laundering, utilising Ralebipi Properties CC (accused 3), a corporate entity which the state alleges was created to serve as a money laundering platform to conceal the origin of the proceeds of crime and the true ownership of the two business properties that were purchased, as well as acts of fraud, forgery, uttering and perjury being committed to conceal the unlawful misappropriation of these funds.
Following a lengthy litigation process, Ralebipi succeeded in obtaining a High Court ruling that the properties must be registered in the name of Ralebipi Properties CC, of which he is the sole member.
The two enjoyed relationships of trust, representing the people of South Africa and the NIA/SSA. They exploited these positions of trust and the covert nature of the CSU operations, which dispensed with a number of financial safeguards, for personal gain.
Issued by:
Henry Mamothame
IDAC – Spokesperson
082 317 5731