How a matric certificate landed an official in court

A former employee of the Department of Health, Manini Monco-Mahlaku, appeared before the Sasolburg Magistrates Court today, 24 October 2025, for alleged forgery and uttering of a matric senior certificate.

The accused had reacted to a job advertisement published in April 2011 and was subsequently appointed. The 49-year-old female served as a basic ambulance assistant from July 2011. In 2022, information was received that she had allegedly falsified another person’s senior certificate and submitted it as her own. The department had already suffered a loss of over R2,2 million.

The matter was reported to Serious Corruption Investigation detectives of the Hawks, culminating in a warrant for her arrest being authorised. Despite having resigned from her post in September 2022, the suspect was traced and arrested on 23 October 2025.

The matter has been postponed to 24 November 2025 and transferred to the Kroonstad Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. She was granted bail of R5 000.00.