The Cradock Regional Court sentenced Thembisa Lawana Dakuse (38), to two years imprisonment last week for defrauding the Road Accident Fund (RAF). The sentence followed her arrest by Hawks in 2022.
The court heard that on 3 February 2018, Dakuse was involved in a motor vehicle accident at Ummulu street, Motherwell in Gqeberha, where she sustained injuries, later lodged a claim against RAF for the accident and she was reportedly compensated. Thereafter, Dakuse unlawfully and falsely filed another claim against RAF stating that during the aforesaid accident she was a pedestrian coming from work.
Dakuse further indicated that she was earning R93-00 a day from her employer as reports indicate that she was unemployed. Therefore, due to the injuries sustained she was unable to continue with her work duties and could not be employable again. As a result, RAF picked up “red flags” from the additional claim lodged by Dakuse and it was rejected, and as a result Hawks were activated for thorough probing.
Investigations confirmed that due to the misrepresentation of facts made by Dakuse, RAF nearly suffered over R700 000 out of the compensation claim lodged. This led to Dakuse being apprehended by the Hawks, made numerous appearances until she was sentenced to undergo 2 years imprisonment, of which it was suspended for 5 years.
