Pretoria, 31 March 2025 – Two former officials of the State Security Agency (SSA) have been arrested on charges of theft, fraud, and money laundering involving R5.8 million in state funds. The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), in collaboration with the SSA, apprehended the suspects, who subsequently appeared before the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. Their case has been postponed to 23 June 2025 for a pretrial hearing.
The accused, identified as Ntshavheni Prince Makhathana and Matome Solomon Ralebipi, were granted bail set at R100,000 and R150,000, respectively. The court imposed strict bail conditions, including the surrender of their travel documents, prohibition from contacting state witnesses, and restrictions on their movement outside their residences, except for legal consultations and medical needs. They are also barred from disposing of their immovable assets and are required to report to their nearest police station every Friday.
Makhathana, formerly a manager of the Cover Support Unit (CSU) within the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and Ralebipi, an ex-agent of the NIA, are accused of misappropriating state funds allocated to the intelligence agency between 2007 and 2010. The funds were allegedly siphoned for personal gain, exploiting the covert nature of CSU operations, which lacked standard financial oversight.
The prosecution alleges that Ralebipi Properties CC, a corporate entity controlled by Ralebipi, was used as a money-laundering conduit to obscure the origin of the stolen funds and conceal ownership of business properties purchased with the proceeds of the crime. Additional charges include fraud, forgery, uttering, and perjury, which were purportedly committed to disguise the misappropriation.
A prolonged legal battle ensued over the ownership of the implicated properties, culminating in a High Court ruling in Ralebipi’s favor, recognizing Ralebipi Properties CC as the registered owner.
Authorities have emphasized that the accused individuals, who held positions of trust within the NIA/SSA, allegedly exploited their roles for illicit financial gain. The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat corruption within government institutions.