Picture: EFF councillor, Betty Diale/Google 

By OBAKENG MAJE

A fraud case against Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) councillor, Betty Diale (52) has been postponed to 21 and 22 June 2023 for trial by Rustenburg Regional Court on Friday (3 March 2023). Daile, who is facing six charges of theft, amounting to approximately R700 000, allegedly stolen from the Road Accident Fund(RAF) claimants.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman in North West, Henry Mamothame said, police reports revealing that Fidelity Funds, a body that oversees the conduct of attorneys, received several complaints from the RAF claimants, whose payments were deposited into Diale’s trust account. 

“The claimants alleged that, the said money did not reach them after the payout and henceforth, reported to the police for investigation.

“Diale was practicing as an attorney, during the alleged commission of the crimes between 2009 and 2011 and was subsequently charged with six counts of theft in June 2021,” Mamothame said.

The Legal Practice Council has struck her off the roll, preventing her from practicing as an attorney. Diale is currently serving as EFF councillor at Rustenburg Local Municipality after being demoted as the Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) in North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) a few months ago.

Mamothame said, the pre-trial conference was completed and the state has provided Diale with all the necessary documents in preparation for trial. He said, Diale has indicated to the court that she will be representing herself.

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