Mthatha Specialised Commercial Court sentenced Anele Mqhathu (30) to 15 years for theft of more than R700 000, from her employer for ten months. Mqhathu stole the money from the business, Tsolo Engine Garage in Mthatha, Eastern Cape between February and November 2021.

The court sentenced her to a further 15 years for money laundering but ordered that the two sentences run concurrently. National Prosecuting Authority provincial spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said that during the said period, Mqhathu was employed by the garage as a manager. "She took money from the cashiers under false pretenses that she was going to bank it, but she gave the money to her friends to deposit into her personal bank account and appropriated it for her personal use. The owner of the filling station picked up irregularities and hired an accountant to look into the matter," Tyali said. He added that when Mqhathu was confronted about the allegations, she could not provide satisfactory answers and even admitted to the crime on a cellphone recording. However, after her arrest and during the trial, she changed her tune and pleaded not guilty. An ex-convict-turned-activist against drugs, crime, women and child abuse says he is enjoying and making the loss of his prison time, he has made friends and he is the go-to guy when it comes to anything music and entertainment related. "

Tyali said under cross-examination, Mqhathu also contradicted herself and made some admissions. Senior state advocate Mthuthuzeli Rangula argued that by changing the bank accounts of the recipients of the filling station and putting hers and those of her friends, and subsequently requesting them to withdraw such cash and hand it over to her and deposit some of it into her bank account, Mqhathu's actions had or were likely to have the effect of concealing the crime to avoid prosecution. "The prosecutor prayed for the court to impose a minimum sentence of 15 years, which is effective when the value of the stolen amount is more than R500 000 and the court agreed," said Tyali. Tyali further said that the NPA's Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) has made an application for the confiscation of the house that Mqhathu built with the money stolen from the filling station and as part of restorative justice it will be auctioned and the money paid back to the owner of the filling station.