Corrupt attorney gets 9-year prison sentence, suspended for 5 years


The Bellville Commercial Crimes Court in Cape Town has sentenced attorney Phuti Mothemane to nine years’ direct imprisonment for corruption.

The sentence is suspended for five years on condition that he’s not arrested on a similar charge during the period of suspension.

He’s also been sentenced to three years of correctional supervision, which includes house arrest and community service.

The National Prosecuting Authority proved that, on September 23, 2022, Mothemane offered State Prosecutor Adv. Ezmeralda Johnson, a bribe of R50 000 to scupper the State’s case against his client.

The matter of State versus Norman Kotze and five others involved charges of fraud and corruption against the accused.