STOKVEL FRAUDSTER SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS' DIRECT IMPRISONMENT

By: Neo Ntsele

Lieutenant General Solly Lesia, the Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State, and Major General Mokgadi Bokaba, the Provincial Head of the Hawks, have expressed their approval of the sentencing of 31-year-old Lebohang Mokatedi and his company, Lebohang Society and Financial Credit Service (Pty) Ltd, by the Bloemfontein Regional Court on Thursday, 15 October 2026.

They praised the investigative team, which included the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Bloemfontein, along with detectives from Bloemspruit and Botshabelo, for their comprehensive investigation and for ensuring justice for the victims of the fraudulent scheme.

The sentencing follows Mokatedi’s conviction on 8 October 2026 for multiple charges of fraud, theft, and money laundering.

In 2024, Mokatedi launched a “Christmas” stokvel, luring unsuspecting members with promises of groceries, alcoholic beverages, household items, and relish ingredients at year’s end.

Participants were required to make monthly contributions ranging from R100 to R500.

Numerous individuals from Bloemfontein and Botshabelo joined the stokvel and made their monthly contributions.

However, when it was time to deliver the promised goods, Mokatedi disappeared and failed to fulfil the agreements with the members.

As a result, several victims filed fraud and theft charges against Mokatedi at various police stations in Bloemfontein and Botshabelo.

The cases were initially handled by detectives in Bloemfontein and Botshabelo before being transferred to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in Bloemfontein.

An extensive investigation led to Mokatedi’s arrest in East London, Eastern Cape.

The Bloemfontein Regional Court sentenced Mokatedi to 15 years in prison, with five years wholly suspended for five years, provided he is not convicted of the same offence during the suspension period.

He will thus serve 10 years of direct imprisonment.

His company, Lebohang Society and Financial Credit Service (Pty) Ltd, received a R1 million fine, wholly suspended for five years, on the condition that the company is not convicted of a cybercrime-related fraud offence during the suspension period.