Chinamasa defrauds R13 million in accident funds

An East London mother has told the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court that she spent years trying to recover compensation from attorney Manfred Chinamasa, but never received any payment before her son's death.

Chinamasa (54), a Zimbabwe-born former lecturer at the University of Fort Hare, is facing charges of theft and money laundering. He is accused of defrauding clients of the Road Accident Fund (RAF) of approximately R13 million.

He was arrested in 2023 by the elite police unit, the Hawks, and has been in custody since 2024. Chinamasa is representing himself in court after dismissing his legal counsel. He was also struck off the roll by the Legal Practice Council in 2023.

Testifying in court, Bukiwe Nomnganga (63) recounted her long struggle to recover funds allegedly owed to her following the death of her son, Sandiso Nomnganga.

She told the court that her son was injured in a road accident in 2016 in Gqeberha and that she hired Chinamasa in 2017 to pursue a claim against the RAF. Sandiso later died in December 2018 at Nkgubela TB Hospital.

Nomnganga said that in July 2019, Chinamasa informed her that the RAF had paid out R425,000 in general damages and asked her to visit his office, where she was shown documentation reflecting the payment. She was told that legal fees amounting to R106,000 would be deducted, and that the balance would be paid to her within six months.

"He said it would take six months before the money got to me," she testified.

However, years passed without any payment. Nomnganga said repeated follow-ups yielded no results, with Chinamasa allegedly giving shifting explanations. In 2021, he referred her case to another firm, Malusi Attorneys, where she was advised that no funds had been received.

"I would go and check and be told he hadn't paid," she said, adding that efforts by another representative to recover the money were unsuccessful.

Frustrated, she engaged another lawyer in 2022, who also failed to secure payment despite assurances from Chinamasa.

"I did not receive a single cent from Chinamasa," she told the court.

Nomnganga said she later reported the matter to police in 2024 after learning of Chinamasa's arrest and also lodged a complaint with the Legal Practice Council.

The court also heard that she had independently approached the RAF in 2021 after suspecting irregularities in the handling of her claim.

During proceedings, tensions surfaced as Nomnganga addressed Chinamasa directly, disputing his claims that he had withdrawn from representing her.

"I was expecting that I would be assisted, not have attorneys fighting over me," she said.

Statements from seven RAF forensic officials have since been admitted into evidence as the trial continues.