An official of the Siyathemba Local Municipality in Prieska was found guilty of fraud and the forgery of her qualifications.
Patricia Staffa, a municipal licence testing official, received her sentence last week in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Kimberley.
Mojalefa Senokoatsane, regional spokesperson of the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), said Staffa applied in September 2016 for a post advertised by the municipality.
She misrepresented herself when submitting a curriculum vitae (CV), and during the interviews claimed to be in the possession of a matric certificate, which was one of the requirements for the post of a licensing testing officer.
Staffa was appointed by the municipality after the interviews and was later registered with the Gene Louw Traffic College for training that was to assist her in becoming a qualified licence testing officer.
This submission led to the investigation into the authenticity of the certificate.
Through the collaboration between Umalusi, the Department of Education, the NPA and police, the investigation determined that the matric certificate was forged.
During the trial numerous witnesses were called by the prosecution.
The accused elected not to testify or call witnesses during her trial.
The prosecution argued for conviction on charges of fraud and forgery and the court found the accused guilty of both counts.
A further two years of direct imprisonment were wholly suspended for five years on the condition that she is not convicted of fraud, forgery, and theft as a further condition of suspension.
She is expected to pay R2 500 on or before the seventh of each month, starting from 7 December this year, until the last payment.
