A former accountant for the City of Tshwane, Tienka Abbort, was arrested and appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in connection with the illegal transfer of around R11 million into fraudulent municipal accounts.
According to city spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, an internal investigation uncovered more than 200 suspicious transfers totaling over R10 million, funneled from legitimate customer accounts into a ghost municipal account over an eight-month period. Abbort and two other colleagues were identified as key suspects in the scheme.
Abbort had reportedly been evading arrest until her capture, which resulted from a coordinated tracing operation by the city’s Forensic Services Division in partnership with police.
“She has now appeared in court, and the city is compelled to make her identity public to alert any customers who may still be at risk,” Mashigo stated.
During the hearing, Abbort applied for bail of R5,000, but the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) requested it be set at R200,000. The court ultimately granted bail at R50,000, with strict conditions:
She must surrender all travel documents.
She must report twice weekly to her nearest police station.
She may not change her residence without notifying the investigating officer.
At the time of reporting, Abbort had not yet paid her bail.
Mashigo confirmed that the investigation remains active, with a focus now on identifying potential collusion with account holders who benefited from the fraudulent transactions. The city’s Revenue Management Division is reviewing affected accounts and preparing to initiate reversals to maintain credit management compliance.
City Manager Johann Mettler praised the forensic team for their persistence and efficiency.
“They are not only identifying and exposing corruption but ensuring accountability is enforced,” he said.
Mettler advocated for forensic investigators to be granted peace officer status under the Criminal Procedure Act, enabling more direct action against financial crimes in real time.
