By Sitha Maliwa
Former Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) president, Luthando Mbinda, has been found guilty of fraud totalling R995,670.20 by the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Bellville, Cape, bringing a long-running case to a dramatic close. The conviction relates to a scheme dating back to March 2019, where Mbinda opened two bank accounts under the name “LR Mbinda trading as Azania 2019” and instructed Parliament to redirect PAC funds into them.
This fraudulent redirection caused nearly R1 million in losses to both Parliament and the PAC.
Although he was acquitted of money laundering charges, the fraud conviction has been welcomed by many within the PAC. Party members expressed satisfaction, saying it confirms long-held suspicions about Mbinda’s role in the internal decline of the movement. “He was part of the people who messed up the party,” one senior member said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Mbinda, 64, handed himself over to the Hawks on April 9, 2021. Two other individuals initially linked to the case were arrested but later released on warning, and charges against them were officially withdrawn in January 2024.
His expulsion from the PAC in June 2017 marked the beginning of his fall from political grace, after a series of leadership disputes and allegations of financial mismanagement created deep rifts within the party.
Mbinda is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, 2025. The court is expected to consider the seriousness of the financial crime, the damage to public trust, and Mbinda’s cooperation during the investigation.
As the PAC attempts to rebuild ahead of future elections, the conviction has been seen as a small but significant step toward accountability within its ranks. – @NewsSA_Online