Zimbabwean Accountant Steals Over R17 Million From South African Employer
A Zimbabwean accountant is in hot water for stealing over R17 million from his South African employer, the Education and Training Unit (ETU), over six years. Mwanandimai’s elaborate theft, which nearly went undetected, has now unravelled in shocking detail at the North Gauteng High Court.
Mwanandimai, a member of the UK-based Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, resigned from his position in May 2020. It was only after his departure that the Johannesburg-based non-profit, which focuses on democracy and development, uncovered the staggering extent of his fraudulent activities.
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How Zimbabwean Accountant Stole R17 Million from South African Employer
Initially, Mwanandimai admitted to stealing R6.8 million in September 2020 and repaid the amount, signing an acknowledgement of debt. However, a deeper audit revealed that the total stolen funds exceeded R17.1 million.
Court documents exposed Mwanandimai’s cunning methods. Despite being limited to viewing ETU’s online banking profile, he persuaded colleagues to grant him access to transact. He then manipulated payment processes by replacing legitimate creditors’ bank account numbers with his own or those of his company, Lopdale Services and Investments.
This sleight of hand allowed him to funnel payments meant for suppliers and even the South African Revenue Service directly into his accounts. His scheme left ETU’s legitimate creditors unpaid, further exposing the non-profit to financial and reputational damage.
After repaying R7.1 million, Mwanandimai’s outstanding debt now stands at R11 million. Although he acknowledged owing nearly R1.8 million in September 2021 and later committed to paying the full R11 million over 72 months, his admissions were deemed inadmissible as his attorney marked them “without prejudice.”
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Consequences Closing In
However, Judge Soraya Hassim dismissed his objections, ruling that the debt was undisputed, with disagreements only on its full extent.
Judge Hassim issued a provisional sequestration order, calling for Mwanandimai and any interested parties to present reasons next Friday why his estate should not be liquidated. Mwanandimai also failed to have accusations by the ETU—concerning his methods and debts—struck from the court record.
The ETU has not confirmed whether criminal charges have been filed, and Mwanandimai, along with his legal team, has been unreachable for comment.
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