PRETORIA– Patrick Seboko (66), a former HOD, Kuberin Packirisamy (60) CFO, Tebogo Basil Gaborone (46), Senior Manager Project Team and Lizette Wyngaard (56), Chief Director, Trade and Sector Development, for the Department of Economic Development and Tourism appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on 22 and 23 September 2021 consecutively, facing alleged charges of fraud, contravening the Diamonds Act as well as contravening the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

These charges stem from the donor funding surpassing R6.7 million received from the European Union during the 2010/2011 financial year. The funds were intended for training students in cutting and polishing uncut (unpolished) diamonds.

The diamonds were bought in March 2011 from a private entity without the necessary licences to buy rough diamonds, consequently these diamonds were stored at the premises of the same private entity.

A total of forty students were enrolled in the same year, to undergo a mining qualification course in cutting and polishing of diamonds facilitated by Kimberley Diamonds International Jewellery Academy (KIDJA).

It was established that the diamonds were missing and unaccounted for in July 2012, this was uncovered during the random inspection by the Auditor General.

The case against the four suspects was postponed to 22 October 2021 whilst they were all  released on R10 000-00 bail each.

Source: South African Police Service