Criminal investigation over suspected corruption and money laundering of Popcru union's treasurer and former prisons boss

The Hawks, South Africa's Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, have initiated a case of corruption and money laundering set against current Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) Treasurer, Thulani Nsele, and former high-ranking prison official, Khulekani Sithole. This development emerged following a complaints lodged by Willem Petrus Venter – an operational co-ordinator of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC).

The basis of these allegations surfaced after a preservation order amounting to R1.15 million was obtained from the Mbombela High Court, which links to Nsele and Sithole. Upon examining the detailed court documents stemming from Popcru's failure to prevent the Hawks from accessing material confiscated from Popcru House, it was discovered that the FIC was notified by a suspicious payment flagged by an "Accountable Institution."

The payment in question, over a million Rands, was made by Nsele for the acquisition of a property. The funds were deposited into an attorney’s trust account by Moribo Wa Africa 32, a firm in which Sithole assumes the role of the sole director.

According to Captain Mphofa Magetse of the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation division, Nsele's attempts to acquire the property under his company's name faltered due to his inability to provide required 'Know Your Client' documentation. Nsele then requested that the property be registered in his girlfriend's name, however, this transaction was eventually cancelled.

Magetse further elaborates that the unusual refunding process – Nsele refusing reimbursement to his account, and insisting it be paid to Moribo Wa Africa – led to the Accountable Institution's solid refusal to refund the said amount, subsequently pushing them to notify FIC directly.

The subsequent preliminary investigation by the FIC revealed numerous transactions occurring to-and-from the Moribo Wa Africa account, including questionable activity like the purchase of a luxury motorcycle under Nsele's name. In response to these allegations, Nsele denies any involvement in corruption or money laundering.