Ciniso Masuku, the 30-year-old nephew of Electoral Commission (IEC) official Dr. Nomsa Masuku, is set to return to the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in February 2024. The case, heard at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg, involves allegations of fraud amounting to R1.2 million from Standard Bank’s Corporate Social Investment Programme.
Ciniso, who surrendered to police, faces charges of fraud and theft. He appeared in court on Tuesday and was granted bail of R20,000.
He is accused alongside Dr. Nomsa Masuku and her co-accused, Phillip Roux. Both Dr. Masuku and Roux have previously appeared in court and were released on bail of R20,000 and R10,000, respectively.
The allegations stem from Dr. Masuku’s tenure as the head of Standard Bank’s Social Corporate Investments Programme. She is accused of diverting funds from the programme and unlawfully awarding bursaries to ineligible individuals, including family members and friends.
The case continues to draw attention due to its high-profile nature and the involvement of a senior IEC official.