A former Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s court interpreter was found guilty and sentenced to eight years in prison for extortion on Wednesday, October 13.
Buzizwe Zizwe Zitha (43), a former court interpreter in the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, was sentenced by the Nelspruit Specialised Commercial Crimes Court for corruption and the contravention of Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
Zitha was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment, with three years suspended for five years on condition that the accused is not convicted on corruption during the period of suspension. The accused will serve five years’ direct imprisonment.
According to Mpumalanga Hawks’spokesperson, Dineo Sekgotodi, Zitha was arrested on April 15, 2021 following allegations that he solicited gratification from an accused appearing in court for two domestic violence related cases.
“It was reported that during 2020 Zitha approached the accused, promising him that if he could pay him gratification he would assist with withdrawal of two cases against him. It was further reported that the convicted demanded money on different dates, claiming that the money was for the withdrawal of the cases, bail, and for the prosecutor’s fuel and alcohol.
“The total amount extorted from the victim was R11 200. The matter was referred to the Hawks Nelspruit-based Serious Corruption Investigation Unit for further investigation,” Sekgotodi said.
The investigation was finalised and the J50 warrant of arrest was authorized and executed on April 15, 2021. He was arrested, charged, and detained, pending his court appearance.
He appeared before the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on April 17 in 2021, and was granted R5 000 bail.
During an internal disciplinary hearing, Zitha was dismissed from the service.
The case was transferred to Nelspruit Specialiszed Commercial Crimes Court for trial.
Zitha appeared in court on several occasions until he was found guilty and convicted on Monday, November 11. His bail was revoked and he was remanded in custody. He appeared again on Wednesday, November 13 and was sentenced.
The provincial head of the Mpumalanga Hawks, Major General Nicholas Gerber, applauded the investigation team for the quality investigation which led to the conviction of the accused.
