Yakhe Kwinana,60, a former member of the South African Airways (SAA) board, has been arrested on a series of serious charges, including extortion and malicious damage to property.
Kwinana, an accountant by profession, is alleged to have orchestrated a reign of terror against residents in East London, where she reportedly extorted money while accompanied by armed men and ordered the demolition of victims' properties.
Kwinana’s downfall came after a thorough operation by a multi-disciplinary team that included the National Intervention Unit, Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations, Tactical Response Team, and the National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit.
The police acted on intelligence that led them to her location in Midrand, Gauteng, where she was apprehended.
Police spokesperson Major-General Nonkululeko Phokane highlighted the grim nature of Kwinana's actions saying she was allegedly linked to a series of taxi violence and extortion cases in East London.
“She allegedly always came equipped with armed men when threatening and extorting her victims. The intimidation extended to ordering the demolition of properties belonging to those who resisted her demands.”
Following her arrest, Kwinana made her first court appearance at the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
She is set to appear in court again at the East London Magistrate's Court on March 24, 2025, as authorities continue to investigate her alleged criminal activities.
In November 2024, Kwinana was released on R20,000 bail following her arrest on fraud allegations after appearing in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court.
She is accused of defrauding SAA.
“The charges emanate from her failure to disclose past contractual relationships with two entities, namely, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Nkonki Incorporated that were awarded a tender worth R59 million as joint auditors by the SAA for auditing services for the 2011/2 financial year,” said NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane.
The State alleges that Kwinana, in her capacity as the chairperson of the audit committee of SAA and a member of its accounting authority, failed to comply fully with the fiduciary duties imposed on her by the provisions of Section 50 of the PFMA.
She allegedly failed to disclose to either PwC, Nkonki or the board of directors of SAA or the audit committee of SAA that Kwinana and Associates, of which she was the sole director, had previous contractual relationships with PwC and Nkonki and thereby caused prejudice to the proper administration of the affairs of SAA.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za