A KwaZulu-Natal woman has been sentenced to six months in prison and fined R10,000 after she impersonated officials from the Department of Transport.

Sentence Handed Down in Northern KZN

The woman, Nozipho Mathenjwa, was sentenced after appearing in the Umbombo Magistrates Court in northern KwaZulu-Natal. She pleaded guilty to the charges.

The case is part of a growing list of impersonation scams where people claim to represent government departments to win trust fast. In this matter, the court outcome sends a clear message that pretending to be a public official is not a small hustle. It is criminal conduct with real consequences.

What She was Accused of Doing

Mathenjwa was accused of demanding money from members of the public while promising job opportunities and tenders.

These kinds of promises often hit people at their most vulnerable, especially when unemployment is high and competition for opportunities is intense. That is why scams like this spread quickly, because they sound like hope, not a trap. Still, a key warning sign is when someone asks for payment upfront in exchange for work or access.

In cases like this, it also becomes harder for honest officials to do their jobs, because communities start doubting anyone who shows up with a title, a badge, or paperwork.

Officials Praise Anti-Fraud Work

A spokesperson for Human Settlements, Ndabezinhle Sibiya, said the MEC, Siboniso Duma, commended the department’s Anti-Fraud and Corruption Investigating Team and SAPS for pushing the case through and securing a conviction.