THOHOYANDOU – The masterminds behind the Kopanang Pyramid Scheme, who absconded with about R4 million of investors' money six years ago, received heavy sentences in the Thohoyandou High Court last Thursday.

The court heard that Frank Kutumba Stephen Ilubala Kwezi (34) of E 3 Mount View Cape Town and his wife, Dorcas Mamohay Madu Pitso (32), of Klerksdorp, came to Venda in 1996 with the aim of opening the pyramid scheme. They invited persons to deposit money into their businesses, promising them substantial returns.

The court also heard that, between June and September 2002 at Jouberton Residential area in Klerksdorp, the third accused, Buti Simon Pitso (60) and father of Dorcas Pitso, unlawfully acquired properties, knowingly that these were bought from the proceeds of the unlawful activities of the first two accused. Pitso acquired a Mercedes Benz motor vehicle, valued at R180 000, a VW Caravel, valued at R234 590 and a house situated at 5096 Extension 10 Jouberton, Klerksdorp, with an estimated value of R200 000.

A witness, Helen Lerato Sethlari, told the court that the leaders of the scheme came to Venda with the aim of opening businesses. She added that they stayed for a while at Tshakhuma before opening a business in Thohoyandou.

She told the court that she knew Frank Kwezi as the supervisor of the pyramids schemes and Elijah Majola and Justice Nedohe as the owners of the Kopanang Helping Society.

She confirmed that she was given R10 000 by the Kopanang boss, Frank Kwezi. She also said that she knew Dorcas Pitso as the girlfriend of Kwezi and that she had the power to employ and dismiss employees in the Kopanang Helping Society.

Mrs Gloria Mufunwaini, who was employed at Tanganani Helping Society, told the court that she was getting R1 000 as her payment per month. She also lost R500 in the schemes.

The court found that Kwezi had been a poor man who was working in a hair saloon in Klerksdorp before opening his illegal pyramid schemes. It was also found that about 5 244 people were swindled during the operation of the Tanganani/ Kopanang Helping Society in Venda.

Before appearing in the Thohoyandou High Court, Kwezi had appeared in the Kimberly Magistrate Court after he was found operating an illegal business of a pyramid scheme and he was fined R15 000. Kwezi was also arrested for driving a car under the influence of liquor in Cape Town; he told the police that he was Ilubala Stephen Kwezi. It was also testified that Kwezi had bought a cellular phone at the Shopping Complex of Makhado, and when the shopkeeper gave him his change of R100, he told him to keep the change.

The court heard that Dorcas Pitso was a casual worker at the Edgars Clothing Store in Klerksdorp and after acquiring money through the pyramid scheme, she bought a tombstone valued at R120 000 to bury her grandmother.

When passing judgment, Judge George Hetisani said Kwezi seems to be an international criminal and cheating seems to be his career. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment each for opening the Kopanang Helping Society and Tanganani Helping Society. These two sentences will run concurrently. He was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for theft; collectively, he is going to spend 20 years in prison.

Dorcas Pitso was sentenced to four years imprisonment and her father, Buti Pitso was also sentenced to four years imprisonment for being found in a possession of unlawfully acquired property.