The two are accused of taking money meant for service providers and putting it into their own bank accounts.
A former treasurer of a school governing body and a former administrative clerk appeared in court on Tuesday, facing charges related to the alleged theft of nutrition funds intended for a North West primary school.
Mary Ntombi Mielies, 36, and Masilonyana Kenneth Selebalo, 51, both linked to Thakadu Primary School, were charged with 88 counts of theft at the Leeudoringstad magistrate's court.
According to Hawks spokesperson Lt Col Tinyiko Mathebula, the two were arrested on Tuesday morning by the serious commercial crime investigation unit from Klerksdorp following an inquiry into the misappropriation of national school nutrition programme funds.
Mielies and Selebalo were responsible for managing the funds provided by the North West Department of Education to pay service providers for grocery deliveries. In February 2023, a service provider raised concerns about not receiving full payment for groceries supplied to the school.
The investigation revealed that between 2021 and 2023, Mielies transferred over R350,000 from the school’s bank account to her own. It was also discovered that she transferred more than R174,000 to Selebalo’s account.
Both defendants made a brief appearance in court and were granted bail set at R5,000 each. Brig Silas Munzhedzi, acting head of priority crime investigation in North West, and Dr. Rachel Makhari, director of public prosecutions in North West, commended the investigation and prosecution teams for their efforts in bringing the accused to justice. The case has been postponed until January 24.