A service provider Nokuzola Mavis Mafunda (69) and her company Ithani Amen Pty Ltd represented by her, appeared briefly at the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Gauteng on Thursday.
Mafunda is facing a charge of fraud worth more than R940 000.
Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjani said it is alleged that on 22 August 2023 the company was registered with the Commission of Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).
“Nine days after the registration on 31 August 2023 the company was allegedly appointed by the NDoH to provide services of investigations in an internal disciplinary hearing.
Two months after the appointment on 02 November 2023, the accused submitted an invoice of more than R530 000 to the NDoH in her personal name and banking details.
The invoice was not paid because the company was not registered in the Central Supplier Database (CSD) as per the National Treasury instructions and the supply chain management does not pay individuals,” she said.
Mahanjana further said on 29 January 2025, three months after the appointment, the accused registered the company on CSD and thereafter total payments of more than R940 000 were paid to the company between 12 February 2024 and 14 January 2025.
“This came to light when Mafunda and her co-accused, Deputy Director General of Tertiary Health and Hospital Services, Dr Malixole Percival Mahlati, Chief Financial Officer Phineas Phaswa Mamogale and the Director General Sabelo Siyabonga Sandile Buthelezi were reported by the forensic investigator to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).
“After investigations by members of the Hawks’ National Serious Corruption Investigations, the three senior officials at the NDoH were arrested after they handed themselves over to the Pretoria Central Police station on 02 March 2026 and Mafunda was arrested on 05 March 2026 after handing herself over to the police,” she said.
Mahanjana said Mafunda was granted R10 000 bail on condition that she attends court at all times, not commit other offences while on bail, not enter the premises if the National Department of Health (NDoH).
She should surrender her passport to the investigation officer, not interfere with state witnesses and not discuss the matter with her cousin who is also a state witness in this case.
“In court, the state did not oppose her release on bail. The state submitted an affidavit from Investigating Officer Captain Clinton Leonard Arrikum, stating that the accused have no previous convictions or pending matters against them, that they do not pose as a flight risk and that they will not disturb the public when released on bail. The magistrate found that it was in the interest of justice that the accused be granted bail,” she said.
The case was postponed to 03 June 2026 for further investigations and appearance of all four accused in the matter.