The Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, sitting in Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court has granted bail of R20 000 to IEC commissioner, Dr Nomsa Praisy Masuku. Masuku (62) is facing charges relating to fraud of R1.2 million from a Standard Bank trust that was set for underprivileged learners.

Hawks' spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said Masuku was entrusted with managing the Corporate Social Investment Programme (CSI) of Standard Bank when she was still an employee at the bank. "It is reported that the ex-employee was the Head of the CSI Programme for the "Adopt A School Trust" which was established to provide scholarships, bursaries and awards of study, researching or teaching to learners from schools adopted by Standard Bank's "Adopt a School" programme for those individuals who qualify and meet the selection criteria to further their studies at any recognised institutions higher learning," said Mogale.

Mogale said it was discovered that Masuku took advantage of her position and awarded scholastic to those close to her. "Through an intensive probe, the Hawks investigators established that the incumbent flouted the processes of the trust by awarding scholarships to friends and family members through manipulation of documents and without the approval of the Committee, with some of the monies deposited directly into her personal bank account to the tune of R1.2 million," Mogale said.