EASTERN CAPE – Sinethemba Sweetbirth Mdutyana (37) was sentenced by the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court on 13 May 2026 for fraud. Mdutyana was nabbed by the Mthatha base Serious Commercial Crime Investigation on 6 January 2026 and appeared in court on the same day where she was released on warning.
Mdutyana fraudulently lodged a loss of support claim on behalf of her two minor children by misrepresenting the circumstances surrounding a fatal accident that occurred in January 2022 on the N2 near Kwelerha. The incident was presented as a hit-and-run collision involving an unidentified truck. Road Accident Fund (RAF) picked up red flags on the claim submitted and it was repudiated and the matter was handed over to the Hawks for a probe.
Hawks’ investigation revealed that two associates submitted false corroborating affidavits in support of the claim. The statements were found to be inconsistent with credible evidence obtained from police officials and emergency medical personnel who attended the scene. Further investigation exposed that the deceased had initially been recorded as an unidentified person. It was further established that RAF was nearly prejudice of approximately R1.7 million. After meticulous probing by the Hawks, Mdutyana was traced and arrested in Butterworth.
Mdutyana made several court appearances until her sentencing by the court on 13 May 2026. The accused was sentenced to five years of direct imprisonment or to pay a fine of R10 000-00 and an amount of R2000-00 was paid immediately. Mdutyana was further ordered to pay the balance in instalments of R1000-00 for a period of five months.