New charges escalate TMPD officer and attorney wife theft case to over R4 million

Couple in court for allegedly stealing millions from deceased estates.

Prosecutors have added another fraud charge against a couple accused of allegedly stealing and laundering millions from deceased estates after a new complainant reported losing over R1.3 million from a deceased estate.

Attorney Charlotte Tibana and her husband, Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) officer Peter Nonyane, also known as "Gagash", appeared in the Polokwane Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, for the continuation of their bail application, where the State successfully applied to join an additional charge to the existing case.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi, said the latest complainant, from Mokgadi Moetji, alleges she was defrauded over R1.3 million from a deceased estate administered by Tibana.

The new allegation brings the total number of deceased estates linked to the case to four, with the combined value of the alleged fraud and money laundering scheme now exceeding R4 million.

Initially, the State alleged that the pair concealed or disguised the nature, source and movement of approximately R1.75 million withdrawn from bank accounts of two deceased estates.

Prosecutors claim that about R1.65 million of the money was used to purchase a used Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 from a dealership in Pretoria.

According to the State, the alleged transactions prejudiced the deceased estates and deprived the lawful beneficiaries of their inheritances.

The NPA further alleges that Tibana, while acting as the executor of the two estates, authorised and facilitated the transfer of funds from the estate accounts, leading to financial losses for the beneficiaries.

Tibana, 33, and Nonyane, 36, now face multiple counts of fraud and money laundering.

The prosecution continues to oppose bail, arguing that Tibana abused her position as an executor of deceased estates and attempted to interfere with the police investigation.

The State maintains that these factors weigh against her release pending trial.

The matter was postponed for the continuation of the bail proceedings, with State witness Colonel Daniel Makuwa remaining on the witness stand.

Both accused remain in custody pending the outcome of the bail application.