EASTERN CAPE – A Chief Executive Officer of Melting Point, Gcisakazi Mdlulwa (40), appeared in the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Monday, 07 June 2021 for allegations of R6.3 million fraud.

It is alleged that on the 02 February 2017 a company by the name of Melting Point represented by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gcisakazi Mdlulwa held a meeting with Wild Coast Sun Mbizana Development Trust and proposed hosting of an O.R Tambo centenary programme planned for October 2017.

In terms of the proposal it is reported that Melting Point was seeking the permission to partner with the Trust wherein the Trust would provide funding for the purchase of the Dome that was to be erected in Mbizana where the activities of the centenary celebrations were to take place.

It is further alleged that she suggested that the Dome would also subsequently be an asset of the Trust which would be used for the benefit of the community. It is reported that she further advised that the Trust would be assisted in sourcing the grant funding from the National Lottery Commission.

The grant was applied for and approved, the funds were deposited into the Trust account. It is alleged that Melting Point provided the Trust with a quotation and an invoice of the Dome and cash to the value of R6.3 million was transferred to an account held by Melting Point for the Dome that was never erected. The matter was referred to the Mthatha based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team for probing hence her arrest on 03 June 2021.

The Mthatha Specialised Crime Court granted Mdlulwa bail of R5000 following her brief appearance. The matter has been remanded to 27 July 2021 to set a trial date.

Source: South African Police Service