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Honeymoon over for new bride

HOUSE ARREST: Molotsane leaving court yesterday. Pic. 01/02/2007. © Unknown.
HOUSE ARREST: Molotsane leaving court yesterday. Pic. 01/02/2007. © Unknown.

Lenyaro Sello and Ntwaagae Seleka

Lenyaro Sello and Ntwaagae Seleka

After allegedly duping the presidency into paying for her wedding, the "fraud bride", Moleboheng Molotsane, tried to make the state pay for her honeymoon, a court was told yesterday.

Vaal Rand police spokesman Captain Veli Mcera confirmed yesterday that 25-year-old Molotsane had booked in to the Sabie River Sun Hotel in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, using a presidential letterhead.

"The hotel rejected the letter after verifying her credentials with the presidential office.

"The hotel was told that she no longer worked for the office," Mcera said in the Vereeniging magistrates' court yesterday.

Mcera was giving evidence in the trial of Molotsane and her bridegroom, Benjamin Matli, 29, on charges of fraud and theft.

Molotsane was granted R3500 bail and Matli was released on a warning.

Molotsane's bail conditions confine her to 24- hour house arrest.

She may leave her home only between between 9am and 2pm on Sundays.

The court heard that Molotsane and Matli, of Sharpeville, in the Vaal Triangle, told the Riviera- on-Vaal Hotel that the office of the president would pay for their wedding, which was in December.

The bill for the wedding came to more than R50000.

According to presidential spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga, the presidency laid a charge of theft against former secretary Molotsane for stealing a laptop computer.

Magistrate Bruno van Eeden ordered Molotsane to surrender the computer to the police's investigating officer.

Van Eeden reprimanded people in the public gallery for ululating and clapping when he granted the couple bail.

"You should be ashamed of yourselves." he said.

"This case has brought shame to the president's office and has embarrassed the nation."

Prosecutor Lennie Hannekom told the court that the the couple had defrauded the state of R90300.

The couple are expected to appear in court again on March 1.

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