Court Hears Charlotte Tibana Tried to Contact Witnesses as ‘Gagash’ R4m Estate Fraud Bail Fight Deepens
The State has raised fresh allegations of attempted witness interference against Polokwane attorney Charlotte Tibana as she and her husband, Tshwane Metro Police Department officer and social-media personality Peter “Gagash” Nonyane, continue their bail battle in a multimillion-rand deceased-estate fraud case.
The Polokwane Magistrate’s Court heard on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, that Tibana allegedly contacted people linked to the investigation repeatedly, to the point that some ultimately blocked the number being used to reach them.
Investigating officer Constable Phuthisho Thobejane relied on the alleged contact as one of the reasons he believes Tibana could interfere with witnesses or the continuing investigation if she is released on bail.
The allegation substantially raises the stakes in a case that has already expanded from an initial figure of about R1.75 million to allegations involving more than R4 million across three deceased estates.
Tibana and Nonyane deny the allegations and remain presumed innocent unless convicted.
Investigating officer alleges repeated contact with witnesses
Thobejane told the court that people identified as the Mathabatha family had reported being contacted telephonically by Tibana.
According to his testimony, the calls allegedly continued until the recipients blocked the number being used.
The State is relying on that information to argue that Tibana poses a potential risk to witnesses if released.
No court has yet determined that unlawful witness interference actually occurred.
The allegation currently forms part of the State’s opposition to bail and would need to be tested against Tibana’s version.
Case has grown to three deceased estates worth more than R4 million
The case is now considerably larger than when Nonyane was first arrested.
The couple initially faced allegations involving approximately R1.75 million.
Prosecutors now allege that three deceased estates suffered losses exceeding R4 million between 2024 and 2026.
Tibana, who operates a law firm in Polokwane, was appointed as executor in deceased-estate matters.
The NPA alleges that money was unlawfully transferred from trust or estate accounts.
Nonyane is accused of participating in the alleged fraud and laundering of the proceeds.
According to EWN, Tibana currently faces three fraud counts and two money-laundering counts, while Nonyane faces two fraud and two money-laundering counts.
State identifies three estates in alleged R4m fraud
Evidence presented in the bail proceedings has identified three estates forming part of the State’s case.
According to testimony reported from court, the estate of the late Masha allegedly suffered losses of approximately R1.65 million.
The estate of the late Mathabatha is linked to an alleged loss of around R100,000.
The estate of the late Thompson Maswanganyi is alleged to have suffered prejudice of more than R2.7 million.
Those figures are allegations from the State and have not been proven at trial.
Together, however, they explain how the prosecution’s case expanded beyond the original R1.75 million figure.
Maswanganyi royal family raises questions over millions
The Maswanganyi family has also publicly raised concerns about the handling of the estate of the late chief Hlengani Maswanganyi.
Family spokesperson Thembani Maswanganyi told TimesLIVE that approximately R4.6 million was available for distribution, while the family says it received around R1.47 million.
The family claims there is no satisfactory explanation for the remaining amount.
Those claims are expected to be investigated further and should not be treated as proven theft until tested in the criminal process.
The family has indicated that it possesses documents it wants investigators to consider.
State alleges luxury vehicles and properties linked to proceeds
Thobejane has also told the court that investigators are examining luxury vehicles and properties allegedly connected to the couple.
The State argues that proceeds from the alleged fraud were used to acquire high-value assets.
The investigating officer previously told the court that several luxury vehicles were registered in the names of Tibana’s relatives.
One example involved vehicles allegedly registered to Tibana’s unemployed sibling.
Thobejane said investigators were examining how those vehicles were financed and indicated that the Asset Forfeiture Unit could become involved.
No forfeiture order has yet been announced in relation to those vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz dealership incident also raised in court
The bail proceedings have produced another striking allegation involving a Pretoria car dealership.
Thobejane testified that Tibana and Nonyane went to a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Wonderboom intending to buy a vehicle.
According to his evidence, approximately R1.7 million was paid, prompting the dealership to scrutinise the transaction.
The investigating officer alleged that the couple later returned and demanded the money back, causing a disturbance.
He further alleged that a firearm was involved in threats made at the dealership.
Those allegations have not been proven and do not amount to convictions.
Investigators may nevertheless examine whether the funds involved can be traced to any estate forming part of the case.
State questions lifestyle against Nonyane’s salary
Nonyane’s finances have also come under scrutiny.
The investigating officer told the court that the TMPD officer allegedly takes home approximately R11,000 per month, while paying around R46,000 monthly for a Mercedes-Benz V-Class.
Thobejane argued that the apparent gap between Nonyane’s stated income and expenses required investigation.
The defence has not yet been fully tested on those claims during a criminal trial.
A difference between income and expenditure can raise investigative questions, but it is not by itself proof that assets were obtained through crime.
State says couple may be flight risk
The prosecution is opposing bail for both accused.
Thobejane has told the court that the couple has travelled internationally, including frequent trips to Turkey, and argues that they could pose a flight risk.
He also testified that Tibana allegedly did not immediately present herself to police after being told she was wanted for arrest.
According to his evidence, she initially indicated she would report to Polokwane police but later became difficult to reach.
The court will ultimately determine whether those circumstances justify keeping her in custody.
Bail hearing now tests witness-interference allegation
The latest allegation about contacting witnesses could become one of the most important issues in the bail ruling.
When courts consider bail, they may examine whether an accused is likely to interfere with witnesses, destroy evidence, evade trial or undermine the functioning of the justice system.
The State is now arguing that Tibana’s alleged calls provide concrete evidence of that risk.
The defence will have an opportunity to challenge the testimony and explain the context of any contact.
The magistrate must decide the issue on the evidence placed before court.
Nonyane’s social-media profile adds public attention
Nonyane is widely known online as “Gagash”, “Greater Gagash” or “Lamasweet”, giving the court case substantial public attention beyond an ordinary financial-crime prosecution.
But his social-media persona is legally irrelevant to whether the State can prove fraud or money laundering.
The criminal case will depend on estate records, trust-account transactions, banking evidence, witness testimony and whether prosecutors can connect the accused to the alleged movement and use of estate funds.
Why deceased-estate fraud is particularly serious
People administering deceased estates occupy positions of considerable trust.
Executors may control bank accounts and oversee the distribution of money and property belonging to people who have died.
Beneficiaries often depend heavily on attorneys and executors to ensure funds are accounted for properly.
Where money disappears, families can spend years attempting to reconstruct what happened.
That is why allegations involving three separate estates and millions of rand are likely to attract close scrutiny from prosecutors, the legal profession and affected families.
What happens next
The court must still determine whether Tibana and Nonyane should be released on bail while the investigation and criminal proceedings continue.
The State has now placed several reasons before court for opposing their release, including alleged flight risk, the investigation of assets and, most recently, alleged efforts by Tibana to contact witnesses.
Further investigation is also continuing into the additional estate allegations.
For now, Tuesday’s genuinely fresh development is significant:
the State is no longer opposing Charlotte Tibana’s bail only because of the scale of the alleged R4 million fraud. Investigators now also allege that she attempted to contact witnesses in the case, with some allegedly blocking the calls.
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