The Limpopo High Court in Polokwane will give its ruling regarding the bail appeal of attorney Charlotte Tibana and her husband, Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) officer Peter 'Gagashe' Nonyane on Thursday.
The couple is accused of theft, fraud and money laundering linked to deceased estates.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Mashudu Malabi confirmed that the appeal was heard virtually on Wednesday, October 21, following the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court’s dismissal of their bail applications on September 4.
“Judgment in the bail appeal of Attorney Charlotte Tibana and her husband, Peter Nonyane, has been reserved,” the NPA said in a statement.
Judgment is scheduled to be delivered on Thursday, October 22, at the Limpopo Division of the High Court in Polokwane, in open court.
The outcome will determine whether the couple can be released on bail while investigations continue into the allegations against them.
Alleged R11 million deceased estates theft
Tibana and Nonyane are among the accused in a case involving allegations that approximately R11 million was unlawfully withdrawn and laundered from accounts linked to 15 deceased estates.
The State alleges that Tibana, who was appointed executor of the estates, unlawfully withdrew funds belonging to deceased people and that the money was subsequently moved through various accounts.
According to the prosecution, the alleged transactions involved concealing or disguising the source, location, movement and ownership of the money.
The State has also alleged that approximately R1.65 million of the proceeds was used to purchase a pre-owned Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 from a dealership in Pretoria.
Nonyane, popularly known as “Gagash”, is further alleged to have used some of the money to make stokvel contributions and finance the construction of a residential property.
Two co-accused granted bail
The bail appeal follows developments in the broader case, in which two additional accused were granted bail by the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on October 8.
Rirzhaku Tibana, Charlotte Tibana’s younger sister, and businessman Jabulani Nephtal Maluleke were each granted bail of R60,000.
The State did not oppose their release, according to Malabi.
The two accused are collectively facing 101 charges, including fraud, theft and money laundering, arising from allegations linked to the administration of the 15 deceased estates.
As part of their bail conditions, Tibana, who is accused number three, must report to Letsitele Police Station every Friday between 8am and 4pm, while Maluleke, accused number four, must report to Pretoria Police Station during the same hours.
The matter has been postponed to November 6, 2026, for further investigations.
Charlotte Tibana and Nonyane remain in custody pending the outcome of their bail appeal.
sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za
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