Lizeka Tonjeni, a former employee of the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA), has been sentenced to five years in prison for her involvement in a significant corruption case.
The Pretoria Specialized Commercial Crimes Court delivered the verdict on Friday, highlighting the serious nature of her actions while managing a contract for Digital Vibes Communications Agency.
Details of the Offense
The corruption charge centres around a R160,000 bribe accepted by Tonjeni during her tenure as a project manager. She was responsible for overseeing a contract worth nearly R4 million awarded to Digital Vibes in 2018.
Between December 2018 and August 2020, Tonjeni accumulated unauthorized payments totalling R160,000. According to Lumka Mahanjana, a spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), these payments were fraudulent and not entitled to her.
Trial and Sentencing Outcome
Tonjeni’s denials in court, claiming that the payments were for personal products, did not convince the jury. Despite her arguments that she owed the Digital Vibes director R85,000 for unpaid products, the evidence from MISA employees clearly implicated her in the corruption scheme.
During sentencing, the prosecution urged the court to impose a custodial sentence, emphasizing the severity of her crimes and pointing out that the presence of a young child cannot absolve one from accountability. Ultimately, Tonjeni was sent to prison, reinforcing the judiciary’s stance on corruption and its consequences.
