Ente Thibello Sekhoto (51) and his company, Batlokoa Circle 12 Plaster Services (Pty) Ltd, were sentenced on 13 May 2026 by the Heilbron Magistrates’ Court for fraud and money laundering related to the Covid-19 Temporary Employee Relief Scheme (TERS).
During 2020, Sekhoto fraudulently applied for Temporary Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) benefits on behalf of purported employees who were not employed by the company. As a result of the fraudulent application, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) paid an amount of R201 812.36 into the bank account of Batlokoa Circle 12 Plaster Services (Pty) Ltd.
Consequently, the Department of Employment and Labour suffered financial prejudice and loss.
A criminal case was registered and referred to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit in Welkom for further investigation, which led to the arrest of Sekhoto.
The court found Sekhoto and his company guilty of fraud and money laundering. The accused were sentenced as follows:
In terms of Section 300 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, Sekhoto and his company were ordered to jointly compensate the National Department of Employment and Labour in the amount of R201 812.36.
The compensation amount must be paid within four years from the date of the order.