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Sukulwenkosi Dube- Matutu
A FORMER Plumtree Town Council cashier appeared in court for allegedly stealing $5, 244 from council funds during her term of office.
Dalubuhle Sibanda (35) resigned recently after she was set to face disciplinary action for embezzling funds.
Dalubuhle appeared on initial remand before Plumtree magistrate Joshua Mawere facing fraud charges. She was remanded out of custody to March 22 after she was granted $50 bail.
Prosecuting, Rose Sibanda said from 2013 to 2017 Dalubuhle made a fake council stamp which she used to defraud the local authority.
a�?She made a fake date stamp which she used to stamp fake route permit application letters for various taxi operators in Plumtree.
a�?She was paid various sums of money ranging from $20 to $30 by taxi operators and diverted the money for her own use. She prejudiced the Plumtree Town Council of its revenue amounting to $5, 244 and nothing was recovered,a�? said Sibanda.
She said the offence was discovered after an audit of council receipt books.
Sibanda said the fake date stamp which Dalubuhle used was recovered from her while fake letters which were tendered to the Ministry of Transport by various taxi operators were also recovered.
The former treasurer of the council, Joshua Nkomo also recently appeared in court for stealing $16, 195 from council funds during his term of office.
Nkomo (52) who runs Kondabayakhe Sports Bar in Plumtree resigned recently after residents from the border town accused him of embezzling council funds and demanded his suspension.
Nkomo who pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of theft is set to appear for trial on a date which is yet to be set.
He was remanded out of custody on $300 bail.
The allegations against him are that from September 3, 2010 to August 16, 2015 Nkomo took money meant for various development projects and for employees and converted it to his own personal use.
He also took advance salaries and did not pay back the money.
The matter came to light after an audit of council finance statements by their internal auditor Christopher Ndlovu.
derick.khumalo