Couple in court accused of siphoning R1.75m from two deceased estates

A couple has appeared in the Polokwane Magistrates’ Court accused of stealing and laundering about R1.75 million from two deceased estates, prosecutors said.

Who is accused

The accused are Charlotte Tibana, 33, an attorney, and her partner, Tshwane Metro Police Department officer Peter Nonyane, 36, who is also known as ‘Gagash’. They face charges of theft, fraud, alternatively theft, and money laundering.

Allegations and assets

The State alleges that the pair concealed or disguised the nature, source and movement of about R1.75 million withdrawn from the bank accounts of the two deceased estates. Prosecutors say roughly R1.65 million of that money was used to purchase a used Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 from a Pretoria dealership.

Role of the accused and impact on beneficiaries

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi, Tibana, while acting as the executor of the two estates, authorised and facilitated transfers from the estate accounts. The NPA says those transactions prejudiced the deceased estates and deprived the lawful beneficiaries of their inheritances.

Arrests and next court appearance

The NPA said Nonyane was arrested in Pretoria on Friday, while Tibana was arrested in Polokwane on Monday. Both appeared in court on Monday and were remanded in custody. Their bail application was postponed to 21 August 2026.

Prosecutor comments

“The prosecution of such offences remains central to safeguarding the integrity of the administration of deceased estates and ensuring accountability for those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain,” Malabi said.

What the NPA says

The NPA said it remains committed to prosecuting fraud, corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes that undermine public trust and prejudice beneficiaries entitled to estate assets.