The Rustenburg Regional Court, has postponed the case against a Former EFF Chairperson, Betty Diale, to 21 and 22 June 2023, for trial.
Diale is facing six charges of theft, amounting to approximately R700 000, allegedly stolen from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) claimants.
NPA North West regional spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the pre-trial conference was completed and the State has provided Diale with all the necessary documents in preparation for trial.
Diale, an attorney by profession, has indicated to the court that she will be representing herself.
Police reports reveal 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 but they alleged the money did not reach them.
The claimants reported the matter to the police for investigation Diale, who was practicing as an attorney, during the alleged commission of the crimes between 2009 and 2011.
She was subsequently charged with six counts of theft in June 2021.
Last month the EFF replaced Diale from her position. In a letter to the provincial legislature dated February 1, the EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini said Diale would be replaced by the party’s deputy provincial chairperson Primrose Bogatsu, but did not indicate the reason for her removal.
The EFF North West provincial secretary Papiki Babuile said Diale had been replaced as an MPL, but her removal had nothing to do with her criminal trial.
He said Diale was redeployed to the Rustenburg Local Municipality as part of strengthening the party’s caucus.
