Ex-lawyer, father-in-law in court for fraud

Zietta Janse van Rensburg (Photo: Zietta Janse van Rensburg/ Facebook)

Zietta Janse van Rensburg (40), a former lawyer from Malelane, appeared on Monday with her father-in-law, Johan Janse van Rensburg (73), in the Mbombela (Nelspruit) Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud, theft and money laundering.

Johan applied for bail and referred to his medical condition. He was granted bail of R10 000 on the condition that he hand over his travel documents to the investigating officer.

Zietta did not apply for bail and the case was adjourned until Tuesday for her bail application. Johan was instructed to appear in court again on Tuesday 14 April, when the next court date will be determined.

Maroela Media earlier reported that Zietta and Johan were arrested by the Falcons on Monday on charges of fraud, theft and money laundering related to incidents dating back to 2021.

Investigations revealed that Zietta allegedly defrauded a businessman out of approximately R14 million under the pretext that she was facilitating the sale of a business premises in Mbombela.

The money was apparently deposited in the bank account of her father-in-law, which was presumably an attempt to hide the proceeds of the alleged crime.

Zietta was suspended by the High Court in Mpumalanga in 2024 after the Legal Practice Council received dozens of complaints related to the work she did as a lawyer on Malelane. She had previously also been arrested in connection with similar cases.