Cash guards in court over R6m loot

Money stolen during collection

The Germiston Magistrate’s Court yesterday heard that the cash-in-transit security officers arrested for allegedly stealing R6-million collected from different institutions had claimed they did not know where the money was.

Clement Ramonaheng Motsotsi, 37, and Mbangiseni Hendrick Rapholo, 44, stand accused of stealing the money from their employer Fidelity.

Investigating officer Warrant Officer Paul Kgoedi told the court Motsotsi and Rapholo began their normal routine work at 6am.

At the end of the day the two had collected R3 900 000.

Kgoedi said they reported back to work in Germiston at 7pm. “Upon arrival the crew [Rapholo, the man collecting the money] got off [the van] and booked himself out without handing the money,” said Kgoedi.

“The driver [of the van Motsotsi] proceeded to cash off the

‘‘ They had collected 106 bags but only 13 were found

collected bags. They had collected 106 bags but their superior found only 13 bags. The driver was asked where the rest of the bags were and he said he did not know. He was asked about the crew and he said [the crew] had left.”

Police were called and Rapholo’s house was searched, but nothing was found. They were arrested and charged with theft.

Two weeks later Metro police officers received a tipoff about a suspected stolen money at a house belonging to Rapholo’s brother Matome Rapholo and his wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth voluntarily handed over R82 000 to policemen.

Police proceeded to the house of Mbangiseni Rapholo’s wife Ntombi Rapholo, to search for more money.

A further R37 000 was recovered after Ntombi had led police to the house of a family friend Ellen Gama.

Ntombi Rapholo, Elizabeth Rapholo and Ellen Gama began their bail application process yesterday.

The matter continues today.