Former MP Rubben Mohlaloga Begins 20-Year Prison Term for R6 Million Fraud

Former Member of Parliament Rubben Mohlaloga has been ordered to report to prison to commence his 20-year sentence. The sentence comes after the Supreme Court of Appeal rejected his appeal against a conviction tied to a R6 million grant fraud.

What Happened

Mohlaloga was the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs at the time of his offending. Through collusion with others, he secured a R6 million payment from the Agri‑Broad‑Based Black Economic Empowerment Fund (AgriBBBEE) a fund meant to assist previously disadvantaged farmers.

The funds were transferred in February 2008 to a law firm trust account, but were depleted within three months and none of the money went toward its intended purpose, according to the court documents.

The Legal Outcome

• On 14 February 2019, Mohlaloga was convicted of one count of fraud and one count of money-laundering.

• He received concurrent sentences: 15 years for each count, with 10 years of the money-laundering sentence running concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of 20 years.

• On 8 August 2025 the Supreme Court of Appeal ordered that he be incarcerated. He applied for bail extension while appealing to the Constitutional Court, but the North Gauteng High Court refused the extension on 13 October 2025.

Why This Matters

The case strikes at the heart of two major issues in South Africa: misuse of public funds meant for empowerment, and accountability of public representatives. A fund designed to support disadvantaged farmers was instead used for fraud, with a senior politician directly implicated.

For the public, this outcome reinforces that high-profile individuals can be held to account, though critics argue the delay until incarceration (over six years since initial sentencing) shows how slow the justice system can be.

What to Watch

• Whether the Constitutional Court will agree to hear Mohlaloga’s appeal and what grounds remain for it.

• Investigations into the law firm and any other parties involved in the payment and mis-application of the funds.

• How the AgriBBBEE fund will recover and what steps will be taken to prevent similar frauds in the future.

• Public reaction and whether this prompts tighter oversight of empowerment funds and public officials.