Pretoria -
A childhood friend of Maxwell Ramaphosa – one of two men accused of defrauding the Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund of R2.1 million – testified on Tuesday that he had allowed Ramaphosa to use his driving school business account for money laundering.
Ntshuleneni Rodney Vele, former co-owner of Gladiator driving school, told the Pretoria Regional Court that Ramaphosa approached him in 2009, saying he was expecting a large sum of money. Vele said he and Ramaphosa were from the same village in Venda, and he trusted him and therefore did not ask questions.
Asked by prosecutor Margaret Thulare how he thought his business would benefit by the deposits, he said the balance would be beneficial for credit applications.
Ramaphosa, 36, and co-accused Samuel Mfeleng, 36, both from Soshanguve, face 15 counts of fraud and 26 of money laundering. They are alleged to have submitted fraudulent claims to the department, claiming for services not rendered.
The court heard Ramaphosa would occasionally give Vele R3 000 after a deposit had been made. He used the money to buy airtime, clothes and luxury items. He said the deposits ranged from R15 000 to R50 000.
Vele’s former driving school business partner, Ronald Rembuluwani Mbedzi, testified there were deposits of R40 000, R50 000 and later R80 000.
Vele had told him the payments were from an uncle in Mpumalanga who was building RDP homes.
Mbedzi said the deposits and lack of clarity from his partner angered him so he left and opened a new business.
The case resumes on May 22.
Pretoria News