Hawks arrest ex-land reform finance chief over R1.35m Ingogo fraud
Grace Mokoka, 50, faces fraud, theft, corruption and money laundering charges tied to a land restitution project in Mpumalanga.
The Hawks in Mpumalanga have arrested a 50-year-old former Deputy Director of Finance at the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform over an alleged R1.35 million fraud involving funds intended to support a community land restitution project.
Grace Mokoka was arrested on a warrant of arrest in connection with a case registered at Nelspruit in 2018, according to the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks). She faces charges of fraud, theft, corruption under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA), and money laundering under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
The investigation stems from a land restitution project involving the Ingogo Communal Property Association (CPA), which successfully lodged a land claim in 2018. After the land was restored to the community, the CPA sought help from the department to buy farming and firefighting equipment.
It is alleged that the project was exploited through a fraudulent scheme in which an invoice was submitted by MPG Mash Trading (Pty) Ltd for services that were never rendered. Mokoka, who was employed as Deputy Director of Finance at the time, allegedly irregularly approved a payment of R1,358,440 to the company without services being rendered and without following required procurement processes.
The investigation further revealed that the company’s director, Mduduzi Mashwama, allegedly submitted the invoice after being approached by Sikhumbuzo Nkosi, who had been appointed as project manager by Godfrey Mchunu, a departmental project officer. Mchunu and Nkosi were already arrested in connection with the matter in 2025. Mashwama has also been charged in his personal capacity and as a representative of the company.
Nkosi and Mokoka were previously sentenced to 10 years’ direct imprisonment in separate but similar matters. They were both released on parole when arrested in this case.
Mokoka appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on 29 September 2026, where she was granted bail of R1,000. The matter was postponed to 26 October 2026, when she will join her co-accused, who were also released on R1,000 bail each.
The investigation is being conducted by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation.
Source: South African Police Service (SAPS), Hawks arrest former departmental official in R1.3 million land claim fraud, https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=71506
