Komga police officer, accomplice convicted in RAF fraud case
Komga police officer Warrant-Officer Mandlenkosi Njekanye (50) and his accomplice Xolani Somtsewu (45) have been convicted of Road Accident Fund (RAF) fraud and defeating the ends of justice. The East London Regional Court delivered the verdict on 24 March 2025.
The case stems from a fatal accident on 31 December 2020, when Somtsewu, driving a Nissan NP300 bakkie, crashed on the N2 Highway near Komga, East London. His passenger was killed, while Somtsewu sustained minor injuries. The initial accident report attributed the crash to a tyre burst, and an inquest docket was opened.
A year later, the two accused allegedly coerced an officer at Komga Police Station to alter the accident report, falsely stating that Somtsewu had swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle. This modification was intended to support a fraudulent RAF claim of nearly R5 million. However, discrepancies in the statements led to RAF rejecting the claim and referring the matter to the Hawks.
Following an investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit, Njekanye and Somtsewu were arrested on 22 November 2023 and granted bail of R500 each. After multiple court appearances, they were convicted, and their case has been postponed to 14 May 2025 for sentencing.
