A KwaZulu-Natal man has been sentenced to six years in prison for using fraudulent qualifications to secure a high-ranking position at the KwaZulu-Natal Office of the Premier. Mlekeleli Masondo received his sentence on Thursday at the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court.
Masondo was initially hired as a project manager in 2019 before applying for the position of Deputy Director, which he subsequently obtained. According to KZN Hawks spokesperson Simphiwe Mhlongo, the Office of the Premier was defrauded of over R3 million during his employment.
The Department of Public Administration conducted a verification of Masondo's qualifications and requested the submission of his original documents, including his certificate. Masondo failed to provide these documents, leading to an internal investigation. He chose to resign during this process, prompting authorities to open a fraud case against him.
In court, Masondo received a two-year sentence for forgery and another two years for two counts of uttering fraudulent documents; however, these sentences will run concurrently.