By Everson Luhanga
Jacob Yende, 75, was sentenced to life in jail, but that didn’t stop him from committing crimes while behind bars.
Yende threatened and attempted to extort money from then-home affairs minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, while in Witbank prison.
But the Hawks arrested him, and he appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Thursday 29 August on charges of intimidation and extortion. The case was remanded to 9 September for his legal representation.
Hawks’ spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said: “It was reported that on 29 December 2022, the erstwhile Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, currently the Minister of Health, received threatening telephone calls followed by WhatsApp messages from a suspect who identified himself as Vusi.
“Vusi alleged that he was hired by certain people to kill the minister for his position and was already paid R40,000 upfront by the alleged mastermind,” said Mogale.
Mogale said Vusi indicated that the balance of R20,000 would be paid upon completing his task.
“Vusi then solicited R80,000 to be deposited into a Capitec bank account as he felt that the minister is honourable and kind.”
She said the matter was reported to the Hawks, and a case of intimidation and extortion was opened at Brooklyn SAPS.
The Serious Economic Offences unit served a summons on Yende on 29 July on intimidation and extortion charges.
A search and seizure operation was conducted at the prison, where several cellphones and SIM cards were confiscated.
“Warning statements were obtained from eight sentenced prisoners, one of whom is the account holder of the Capitec bank account number provided to the minister.
Pictured above: Dr Aaron Motsoaledi.
Source: dha.gov.za
