David Mabuza's accuser investigated for money-laundering

The Mpumalanga woman who accused deputy president David Mabuza of plotting to kill conservationist Fred Daniel is being investigated for money-laundering. 

The woman, who was allegedly also found in possession of house robbery equipment when she was arrested by the Hawks earlier last  month, appeared in the Nelspruit regional court on Wednesday to apply for bail. 

Investigating officer Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Mhlongo opposed bail, telling the court that the accused, Nomfundo Sambo,32, is also facing other charges including a case of money-laundering. According to Mhlongo about R700,000 had been deposited and withdrawn from Sambo’s account. He noted that Sambo only earns R2,500. 

Sambo caused a storm last year when she claimed to have witnessed deputy president's diary bearing a plan to murder Daniels. In an affidavit in which Sambo called herself Thandeka Mabuza, a niece to the deputy president, alleged that while helping at Mabuza’s house in Johannesburg on November 5 2018, she stumbled on his diary that detailed a plot to assassinate Daniel, a Mpumalanga-based conservationist.

Mabuza and Daniel have a history of public spat which led to Daniel seeking a court order stopping Mabuza from interfering in his businesses.

“The reason we oppose bail is due to likelihood that the accused will evade future court proceedings. After arresting the accused on March 13 2019, I asked about her passport and she told me it was stolen during a robbery in December. But it came to light that the accused’s passport was actually handed back to her after another court case on February 22 2019,” said Mhlongo. 

“The accused has also not returned the ID book belonging to Thandeka Mabuza whom she impersonated. If this court decides to grant her the bail, I suggest it be fixed at R20,000. The reasons are that she is also being investigated by my office [Hawks] for money-laundering. The accused had a lump sum deposited and withdrawn from her account. When asked about the money she told us that she hit the jackpot at Emnotweni Casino."

Mhlongo said the Hawks have since asked for information from the casino to verify the accused allegations.

Conducting her own defence, Sambo questioned the affidavit’s author when she cross-examined Mhlongo. “What if I tell you that the affidavit was written by Fred Daniel in his laptop?” asked Sambo, to which Mhlongo responded by saying police believe that the affidavit was genuine because it bears the name and ID number of Thandeka Mabuza, whom she impersonated. 

The bail application continues on Thursday.