By Simon Nare
uMkhonto weSizwe Party parliamentary chief whip Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi was granted R30,000 bail on Thursday after appearing in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on charges of allegedly defrauding fellow party members of more than R200,000 in 2024.
She is now expected to appear in the Bellville Serious Commercial Crimes Court on June 18 for defrauding four party members she had recruited to work as researchers.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani said Mokoena-Zondi handed herself over to police earlier on Thursday and was released on “stringent bail conditions”.
Hani said the charges relate to allegations that Mokoena-Zondi recruited four individuals to work as researchers for the party between August and December 2024 and subsequently demanded payments from their salaries, claiming the money was needed to cover legal costs for former president Jacob Zuma.
“It is alleged that during August 2024 to December 2024 the suspect headhunted and recruited four individuals into the party as researchers and during their employment she demanded payments under the pretext it was for the legal cost of the President of the same party. They were forced to pay fifty to sixty percent of their salaries,” Hani said.
Zuma is facing several ongoing legal battles, including matters linked to the long-running arms deal case and Truth and Reconciliation Commission-related proceedings.
Mokoena-Zondi, a former ANC Youth League leader, was appointed MK Party chief whip in February this year after serving in an acting capacity following the removal of Colleen Makhubela.
The MK Party said in a statement it had noted the charges against Mokoena-Zondi and reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law.
The party said it would issue a formal statement after “studying the situation”.
