Hawks arrest two MPU lawyers over alleged R14m fraud

Hawks arrest two Mpumalanga lawyers over alleged R14m fraud linked to a Nelspruit property deal.

The Hawks in Mpumalanga have arrested two legal practitioners for alleged fraud, theft and money laundering linked to a 2021 incident.

It is alleged that a 40-year-old suspect, the daughter-in-law of the second suspect, defrauded a businessperson of R14m under the pretext of facilitating the sale of a business site in Nelspruit.

Provincial Hawks spokesperson Magonseni Nkosi says funds were transferred into the bank account of the second suspect to conceal the alleged crime.

#ICYMI With the Easter holidays upon us, bank card fraud syndicates are on the rise, targeting unsuspecting consumers. Criminals are using cyber-crime to download the victims’ personal and private information to access their bank apps. pic.twitter.com/w6Evo4ARFP

— SABC News (@SABCNews) April 18, 2025

Nkosi says the pair will appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court soon.

“According to information obtained during the investigation, the suspect, aged 40 years old, who is a daughter in law who is, aged 73 years old, allegedly defrauded a businessperson of approximately R14m under the pretext of facilitating a business site in Nelspruit. Investigations further reveal that the funds were deposited into the bank account of the male suspect, who is her father-in-law, in what is believed to be a concealment of the alleged crime,” says Nkosi.

WATCH | South African Insurance Crime Bureau Johan Steyn says there is a substantial rise in life insurance fraud syndicates in the country. He adds that when fully discovered, it results in 100% of cases being prosecuted in court. pic.twitter.com/jOI1UUdXu6

— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 11, 2026