Woman Accused of Defrauding Emfuleni Municipality of R424,000 Denied Bail Again

A 25-year-old woman accused of defrauding Emfuleni Local Municipality of approximately R424,000 had her second bail application dismissed by the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Janitha van Reenen Coetzee remains in custody after the court rejected her fresh bid based on new facts. The matter was postponed for further investigation.

It is alleged that Coetzee posed as an independent agent offering residents discounts on municipal accounts. Victims allegedly paid her to settle their debts, but the funds never reached the municipality. She is further accused of submitting claims that led to Emfuleni paying around R424,000 directly to her, which was not passed to the intended beneficiaries.

The alleged scam was uncovered by the late Financial Officer Martha Mani Rantsofu (right), who was shot dead in Vanderbijlpark on 30 March 2026. Investigators believe Coetzee may have information on the whistleblower’s murder, which is being probed by the Political Killings Task Team.

Coetzee was arrested on 20 May 2026. Her initial bail bid was denied in June over flight risk concerns and the interests of justice. The case is linked to wider procurement irregularities at the municipality, including a reported R16 million “ghost fleet” scandal.