POTCHEFSTROOM – The Office of the Provincial Commissioner in the North West welcomes the conviction and sentencing of 56-year-old Nokwana Chirtobel Memezi, who appeared before the Molopo Commercial Court on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, on charges of fraud and contravention of Section 49(1) of the relevant Act of 2002.
The matter relates to an incident that occurred on 1 March 2022, when the complainant intended to purchase 50 cattle. An amount of R790 625 was deposited into a bank account after the seller provided the complainant with an invoice and banking details.
It was subsequently discovered that the seller’s bank account had been compromised and that the money had instead been deposited into an account belonging to the accused.
Following a thorough investigation, the accused was found guilty on both counts.
The court sentenced Memezi as follows:
- Count 1 – Fraud: Five years’ imprisonment.
- Count 2 – Contravention of Section 49(1): Six years’ imprisonment, of which three years were suspended for five years on condition that the accused is not convicted of unlawful interception of communication committed during the period of suspension.
The two sentences will run concurrently.
The Provincial Commissioner of the North West, Lieutenant General Arthur Adams, commended the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Senyane Setona and Theo Moetaesi, Senior State Advocate Specialised Commercial Crimes Unit, for their diligent and meticulous investigation, which contributed to securing the conviction.
“This conviction demonstrates the importance of thorough investigations and the commitment of our members to ensuring that perpetrators of fraud and other serious commercial crimes are brought before the courts”.