EASTERN CAPE – Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court convicted and sentenced Gerald Julius Munyikwi (41) on 31 March 2022 for charges of fraud and theft. This happened a day after his arrest by the East London based Serious Corruption Investigation team of the Hawks on Wednesday.
During May 2020, Tanaka Soft Solutions was awarded a tender by the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) to supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to 29 schools. Munywiki unlawfully and intentionally made misrepresentation to the ECDoE by submitting an invoice in respect of the supply and delivery claiming for more items than those delivered.
A complaint was lodged with the Hawks and investigations revealed that the department suffered loss of more than R98 000-00. A warrant of arrest was authorised and executed in respect of the company director Linda Filda Muthana (23) on 28 September 2021. She appeared before Zwelitsha Magistrate’s court on the same day where she was released on R2000 bail.
The investigations continued and there was information that Munyikwi who is the husband to Linda was actually the one who made deliveries to the schools. Munyikwi disappeared when the Hawks were trying to make contact with him and subsequently changed his address in order to evade the arrest. He was ultimately traced and arrested at Vincent, East London on 29 March 2022. Munyikwi was brought before Zwelitsha Magistrate’s court on 30 March 2022.The matter was rolled over for 31 March 2022 with him remanded in custody as he was deemed a flight risk.
On 31 March 2022, when the matter was to be postponed for bail application on another date, Munyikwi pleaded guilty on both charges of fraud and theft. The court accepted the plea and convicted him and the company for theft and fraud. Munyikwi was sentenced to pay a fine of R7000-00 or five years imprisonment suspended for a period of five years.