A Hawks officer has told a court how a metro police officer and his attorney wife allegedly sent R1.65 million to a Mercedes-Benz dealership in one transfer while a widow was still waiting for the same money to reach her account.
Colonel Putiki Makuwa gave the evidence in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court during the bail application of attorney Charlotte Tibana, 33, and her husband, Peter “Lamasweet” Nonyane, 36.
The couple face charges of fraud, theft and money laundering over allegations that funds were unlawfully withdrawn from two deceased estates.
At the heart of the case is a Mercedes-Benz G63 deal in Wonderboom, Pretoria, and money that investigators say came from the estate of the late husband of Mrs Masha.
Makuwa told the court that the widow had no idea that funds linked to her late husband’s estate were allegedly being used to buy a vehicle.
“She Said No”
After investigators traced the payment to Masha’s late husband, Makuwa said he contacted her to ask whether she had authorised the money to be used for a Mercedes-Benz purchase.
Her answer, he said, was direct.
“She said no. She also told us she was still waiting for the money. She told us she didn’t know her husband’s money was being used to purchase a Mercedes-Benz.”
The testimony placed Masha’s wait for the estate funds alongside the alleged vehicle purchase.
Makuwa said the state’s investigation followed the money trail from the estate to the dealership. What emerged, according to his evidence, was a same-day sequence of payments linked to a luxury vehicle purchase.
The court heard that Tibana and Nonyane went to the Wonderboom dealership, where Nonyane applied to buy the Mercedes-Benz G63.
The couple allegedly negotiated a price of R1.65 million for the vehicle.
“They negotiated to purchase the vehicle[for] R1.65m.
“On October 28, 2024, the deal was sealed. On the same day, an amount of R100,000 was sent to the dealership, and again on the same day at a later time, an amount of R1.65m. The monies were sent from an estate that belonged to Masha.”
The R100,000 payment was followed later by the R1.65 million transfer, the court heard.
The Money Sent Back
After the payments were made, Makuwa said Tibana called the dealership with a new instruction.
She allegedly said the R100,000 had been sent by mistake and asked the dealership to return it to Nonyane’s bank account.
That request is now one of the details being examined in the bail hearing, together with the origin of the money and the couple’s alleged roles in the deal.
Makuwa said the police investigation found that Nonyane had played a major part in the attempted purchase.
“Nonyane played a big role in this matter because we believe he knew his wife did not have such a huge amount of money in her bank accounts…”
The state is linking the alleged estate withdrawals to the vehicle transaction. It has told the court that the matter involves funds from two deceased estates.
The prosecution’s evidence has focused on the bank transfers, the dealership records and the information gathered from people connected to the estates and the proposed vehicle purchase.
No Power Of Attorney, No Car
The alleged plan hit a wall when Tibana and Nonyane arrived to collect the Mercedes-Benz.
Makuwa said dealership staff asked for proof that the couple had authority to use money from the estate before the vehicle could be handed over.
The required power of attorney was not produced, and the dealership refused to release the car.
That refusal led to a confrontation, according to Makuwa’s testimony.
“Nonyane demanded that all their money be returned. There was an exchange of words during the discussion from Nonyane to the salesperson.He was making threats; hence, he was carrying a gun. The salesperson felt so intimidated that she wanted to resign,” Makuwa said.
The Mercedes-Benz was not released.
Instead, the failed handover became part of a Hawks investigation that led to the couple’s arrest and their appearance in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court.
The state has opposed bail while presenting its version of how the money allegedly moved from estate accounts to the dealership.
Makuwa’s evidence has centred on one question: who had the authority to use money from a deceased estate for the R1.65 million vehicle deal?
The court heard that Mrs Masha said she had not given such authority and was still waiting for the funds.
The case has drawn attention because it involves an attorney, a metro police officer and an alleged attempt to use estate money for a high-value luxury vehicle.
Tibana and Nonyane are expected to answer to the charges as the case moves forward. Their bail application remains before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court.
For Masha, the central point remains the testimony that she was waiting for her late husband’s estate money while the R1.65 million deal was being processed at the dealership.
The hearing continues.
