04 September 2017

HAWKS investigating former Sheriff of Alberton Seti who disappeared after trust account frozen

Submitted by: Tasneem
HAWKS investigating former Sheriff of Alberton Seti who disappeared after trust account frozen

HAWKS investigating former Sheriff of Alberton Seti who disappeared after trust account frozen

The South African Board for Sheriffs is pleased to receive notification that the criminal investigation against the former Sheriff of Alberton, Ntombizodwa Seti has been escalated to the Hawks for investigation. The Board opened a criminal case against Seti last year, after receiving reports that she allegedly misappropriated millions in trust moneys.

Mrs Charmaine Mabuza, the Chairperson of the Board said: “The Board has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to the theft of trust monies. Any complaint of theft of trust moneys is immediately escalated and the Board sends out an inspector to investigate the trust books and accounts of the sheriff. Should there be a negative outcome, the Board immediately makes a request to the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to suspend the sheriff and takes disciplinary action.”

The Board received the first claim against the Fidelity Fund in September 2016 and Seti resigned taking herself out of the disciplinary reach of the Board. Both trust and business accounts belonging to Seti were frozen, following an urgent application to the high court launched by attorneys Du Toit- Sanchez-Moodley.

Seti illegally removed critical files from her office and went into hiding. The Board immediately sent Lana Nel, Sheriff of Pretoria North to investigate the extent of the allegations of misappropriation. The Board then laid a criminal complaint against Seti at the Alberton Police in November 2016. Mabuza confirmed that the Hawks are now investigating the complaint of the Board.

The South African Board for Sheriffs received claims to the value of R15.6 million for the 2016/2017 financial year against the Fidelity Fund for Sheriffs. These claims concern allegations of misappropriation of trust money by a few sheriffs. Once a claim has been approved, the Board takes cession of the claims and can recover the money from the sheriff.

Seti has on several occasions made contact telephonically, making promises to return money and the files that she illegally removed, but never showed up at any of the scheduled meetings. The Board has taken a decision to pursue civil remedies against Seti on behalf of the Fidelity Fund. Private investigators hired by the Board, have managed to trace Seti and this information was communicated to the police.

For more information about this press release contact: Vincent Nel at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.