Johannesburg – Two former State Security Agency (SSA) employees – Ntshavheni Prince Makhathana and Matome Solomon Ralebipi – have been granted bail after they were arrested for stealing R5.8 million from the state.
The pair was nabbed on Monday, (31 March 2025), by the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), working closely with the State Security Agency (SSA).
IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the two former members of the SSA face charges relating to the misappropriation of State funds.
Ntshavheni, a former manager of the Cover Support Unit (CSU) of the then National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and his co-accused, Ralebipi, a former agent of the NIA, allegedly stole R5.8 million of state funds.
The money was allocated between 2007 and 2010 to the then NIA, which later became the SSA.
The state also alleges acts of money laundering, using Ralebipi Properties CC, a corporate entity listed as accused number three.
Following a lengthy litigation process, Ralebipi obtained a high court order to register two properties, allegedly bought with the stolen money, in the name of Ralebipi Properties CC.
Ralebipi is the sole member of Ralebipi Properties CC.
The state alleges Ralebipi Properties CC was created to serve as a money laundering platform to hide the loot and ownership of two business properties.
As a result, the two accused face several charges, including fraud, forgery, uttering, and perjury.
“They subsequently made their first court appearance at the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court and their matter was postponed to 23 June 2025 for pretrial,” said Mamothame.
Makhathana was granted R100 000 bail while Ralebipi was granted R150 000 bail.
Their bail was with conditions that included:
- They were ordered to surrender their travel documents,
- They must not have any direct or indirect contact with the state witnesses,
- They should not leave their residential addresses except for consultations with their lawyers and to get medical attention
- They should not dispose of their immovable assets, and
- They should report to their nearest police stations every Friday.
“The two enjoyed relationships of trust, representing the people of South Africa and the NIA/SSA,” said Mamothame.
“They exploited these positions of trust and the covert nature of the CSU operations, which dispensed with several financial safeguards, for personal gain.”
