Mpumalanga attorney Mantladi Mmela sentenced after siphoning compensation meant for accident victims. Picture Credits: Tzaneen Voice
By Duncan Mnisi
Mpumalanga – Mantladi Jo-Anne Mmela, a lawyer who siphoned Road Accident Fund (RAF) payouts through her firm’s trust account to fund a lavish lifestyle, has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars.
The 44-year-old was handed a decade of direct imprisonment by the Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Thursday, 20 November 2025.
Mmela, who operated as a sole practitioner under Mmela Attorneys, was convicted on four counts of theft after diverting more than R4 million owed to her clients. Between June 2019 and March 2022, she submitted legitimate RAF claims, received the payouts into her trust account, and then kept the money for personal use instead of disbursing it to the victims.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said the case was triggered by a client’s complaint. “The matter came to light when a victim reported that Mmela had failed to pay out their RAF claim. A subsequent investigation led to her arrest in 2022,” Nyuswa explained.
Although she was initially granted bail, Mmela later absconded, prompting a warrant for her arrest. She was re-apprehended in February 2024.
Senior State Advocate Henry Nxumalo led what the court described as a “watertight” case, presenting witness testimony and bank records showing the movement of funds from the trust account into accounts linked to Mmela’s personal expenses.
“She lodged RAF claims on behalf of her clients, and the payouts were deposited into the trust account of Mmela Incorporated Attorneys for the benefit of the claimants,” Nxumalo told the court.
The presiding judge emphasised the severe breach of trust, noting that among the stolen funds was R1.4 million intended for a child injured in a road crash. “This was a clear abuse of the trust placed in legal professionals,” the court stated.
The NPA welcomed the outcome, reinforcing its stance against financial misconduct. “The NPA remains committed to fighting financial crimes and ensuring that those who deprive claimants of their rightful funds are prosecuted,” Nyuswa added.
