The four prominent figures accused of the multi million rand saga appeared before East London Magistrate court for charges of fraud, theft, and corruption and their matter was remanded to 19 January 2026 for further investigation. They are Mandla Gibson Mpikashe (47), former head of legal, Compliance and Governance at Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC), Simphiwe Mkhululi Mbabane (45), Bayethe Maswazi (49), Mpumelelo (Mtumelelo) Mkhosana (54), the director of Mbabane and Sokutu Inc attorneys, were nabbed by the East London Hawks in connection with fraud that reportedly occurred at ECDC that was involved more than R4.2 million.
It is alleged that Mpikashe was entrusted with safeguarding governance and compliance processes at ECDC, where he ostensibly colluded with the mentioned trio to irregularly conclude a Service Legal Agreement (SLA) for debt collection services. The entities, Mbabane Maswazi, & Sokutu Incorporated, were appointed strictly for March 2016, and not for the Panel of Legal Services in March 2016, and not for the Panel of Debt Collectors. In 2017 Mbabane and Sokutu Inc. attorneys were reportedly changed to Mbabane and Maswazi Inc. attorneys.
Despite this limitation, an SLA dated May 2017, purportedly signed by Mpikashe on behalf of ECDC extended the scope of work to include debt collection without following any lawful procurement procedures. This deviation allegedly created an avenue through which the service provider unlawfully deducted approximately R4, 2 million from ECDC, consulting and undue, unjustified, and unlawful financial benefit. Following an intensive investigation by the Hawks four accused and their business entity were arrested on 4 December 2025. Mpikashe and Mkosana were released on R5000 bail each, while Mbabane and Maswazi were granted R10 000 bail each.
