Zietta (40) and Johan (73), an attorney at Van Rensburg Attorneys in Malalane, face charges of fraud, theft, and money laundering and are accused of defrauding a businessperson of approximately R14 million under the pretext of facilitating the sale of a business site in Nelspruit. The matter dates back to 2021.
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Zietta has also been arrested previously in connection with similar, unrelated cases.
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Johan applied for bail, citing his age and medical condition as mitigating factors. The State did not oppose the application, and Magistrate Patrick Morris granted bail of R10 000, on condition that he surrendered his travel documents to the investigating officer, Captain Richard Mandla Mphepheta. He was further instructed to appear in court tomorrow (14 April) when the next court date will be determined.
Zietta’s bail application was postponed to tomorrow (14 April) and she has been remanded in custody. Johannesburg-based attorney, Marco Lamberti, has confirmed that he will represent Zietta.
“It was a complex and challenging case, which contributed to the duration of the investigation,” said the provincial head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Nico Gerber. “However, we were committed to ensuring a thorough process to build a watertight case that will support successful prosecution.”
