Masuku’s corruption case marked by delays

The fraud and money laundering case against IEC Commissioner, Nomsa Masuku, has been postponed to February next year, as authorities secure more accused in the matter. 

The former head of Corporate Social Investments at Standard Bank as well as her colleague and co-accused, Mark Phillip Roux, are accused of funnelling more than R1 million from the bank’s Adopt a School Bursary Trust meant for deserving students and dishing it out to Masuku’s relatives. 

The state prosecutor in the matter says investigations in the case are edging nearer to a close. 

It’s alleged that Masuku fraudulently awarded the scholarships to unqualifying beneficiaries, including two of her nephews. 

Roux is accused of siphoning R800 000 cash through his Silver Arrows Management Company and paying it back to Masuku’s accounts in various instalments. 

YNews has it on good authority that the third accused in the case, who is said to be one of Masuku’s nephews, may hand himself over to the police within the week. 

Education activist, Hendrick Makaneta, emphasised that such damning claims warrant serious attention, especially considering the many students struggling with debt or awaiting registration.

The allegations against the IEC Commissioner have also raised concerns about the ethical operations of the electoral body and sparked calls for Masuku to step aside to prevent further tarnishing the IEC’s reputation. 

The IEC is, however, standing behind Masuku. 

It says it will nonetheless monitor the case.

“It appears that the matter relates to her erstwhile employment and does not relate to her tenure in the Commission both as an employee and commissioner,” the commission says in a statement.