Pretoria – Former Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs, Manyaba Rubben Mohlaloga, has been ordered to report to the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court to begin serving his 20-year prison sentence for fraud and money laundering.
Police spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale confirmed that Mohlaloga’s incarceration follows a drawn-out legal battle after multiple failed appeals.
“Mr Mohlaloga has been directed to report himself to the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court today to commence his 20-year imprisonment sentence handed down on 14 February 2019,” said Mogale.
The case stems from one of the Hawks’ landmark corruption investigations registered in Brooklyn in October 2012. According to Mogale, investigations revealed that in February 2008, a grant of R6 million was irregularly paid to an entity on the verbal instruction of the then CEO of the Land Bank — bypassing the required approval procedures.
“The matter was brought to the Hawks’ attention by the Land Bank, which was managing the AgriBEE Fund valued at R100 million. The fund was allocated by Parliament to empower previously disadvantaged farmers,” Mogale said.
#sapsGP The media article reports that Manyaba Rubben Mohlaloga, a former Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs, has been ordered to begin serving a 20-year prison sentence.
The sentence relates to a corruption case… pic.twitter.com/IsUVn8DbRb
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) October 23, 2025
Mohlaloga, who served as committee chair between 2007 and 2009, was found to have personally benefitted from the irregularly approved grant. He was convicted on one count of fraud and one count of money laundering, resulting in an effective 20-year sentence — 15 years for each count, with 10 years of the money laundering sentence running concurrently.
After his conviction, Mohlaloga lodged several appeals with the Pretoria High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), both of which were unsuccessful.
“Following the SCA’s order on 8 August 2025 directing that he commence his sentence, Mr Mohlaloga filed an urgent application for bail extension pending an intended appeal to the Constitutional Court,” said Mogale.
The bail extension was opposed by the State and ultimately refused by the Pretoria High Court on 13 October 2025, which ordered Mohlaloga to surrender himself for incarceration.
Acting National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Lieutenant General Patrick Mbotho, commended the investigation and prosecution teams for their “outstanding diligence and commitment.”
“This case is a clear demonstration that the Hawks and the justice system remain resolute in bringing those who abuse positions of trust and authority to justice,” Mbotho said.
The conviction marks one of the Hawks’ most prominent corruption cases involving a former senior government official linked to the misuse of public funds.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
