Online Reporter
Ronald Mpofu, Online Reporter
A 42-year-old Plumtree woman stands accused of orchestrating a jaw-dropping R589 929,64 and US$6 273,64 theft from her employer over two years — all while managing a bustling betting shop, bakery, and liquor store.
Sipho Ndlovu, a former manager at Lingwale Enterprises (locally dubbed “Bhogwe”), allegedly siphoned cash meant for the company safe between October 2022 and February 2025, pocketing the funds for personal use. Shockingly, when police inspected the safe, only R7 000 and US$50 remained inside — despite years of sales revenue flowing through the business.
Court papers reveal the safe showed “no signs of tampering,” but Ndlovu allegedly bypassed it entirely, funnelling cash into her own pockets.
Ndlovu’s downfall began when Mr Mandla Donga, owner of Lingwale Enterprises, hired her as manager for his new betting shop after her previous South African employer shut down. Two years later, her alleged scheme unravelled.
Plumtree police arrested Ndlovu on 17 March, 2025, with the courts releasing her on $50 bail. As CID investigators dig deeper, she’s slated to face theft of trust property charges at Plumtree Magistrates’ Court on 28 April, 2025 — where Donga will demand answers for the half-million-rand hole in his business.
derick.khumalo