R1m theft victim rues end of his bond with maid

A BUSINESSMAN has forgiven his domestic worker who is accused of stealing R1-million that was hidden in his bedroom.

"I forgive her. It was not even a choice for me but it did knock me to the core," said Harold Manus, 57, this week.

He was speaking after Linda Mabhengu, 32, appeared in the Bellville Regional Court in Cape Town on Thursday.

In November 2011 Manus frog-marched Mabhengu to a police station in Parow after he realised the money was missing.

She has pleaded not guilty to a charge of theft after initially making a statement to police that she had stolen just R150000 that, she said, she had used to buy a house and second-hand car.

According to the charge sheet, the R1-million, which was kept in a kist at the foot of Manus's bed, was allegedly stolen between 2008 and May 2010.

Mabhengu was arrested four months after buying herself a Fiat Uno for R19000 cash.

The home that she allegedly bought in Delft, in Mitchells Plain, and renovated to include a face-brick facade and burglar bars, has since been sold by the state.

Manus has several businesses, including one that hires out portable toilets. This week he said he had initially felt betrayed when he had discovered the cash was missing.

Alarm bells started ringing when he got a telephone call from a man claiming to be Mabhengu's husband, who said the woman had been stealing money and stashed it in a hiding place known only to him and his wife. The caller tried to extort R5000 from him for more information.

According to a police statement made by Manus, the caller "then said he had helped his wife, Linda Mbengu, (sic) count the money and that she bought a car and a house from it."

Now the businessman says he has forgiven the woman who cleaned his multimillion-rand home in Plattekloof for six years for a salary of R2500 a month.

But he has not hired another domestic worker since then.

Mabhengu was like family, Manus said. She "ate out of the same plates" and was never treated differently.

The Manus family had so trusted her that they would sometimes leave her alone in their home when they went away on holiday.

"You know how some people become members of the family? The honest truth is that I cannot say anything bad about her and she cannot say anything bad about us either," Manus said.

"When she had issues with her children, we intervened."

Mabhengu sold the Uno, which a dealership confirmed had been purchased for R19000 in cash and registered in her name, before the sheriff could lay his hands on it. The Asset Forfeiture Unit had also applied to the high court to seize Mabhengu's property.

In a report to the High Court in Cape Town, state investigators said the former maid had bought the Delft house for R85000, but had not paid it off when they seized the property.

Mabhengu's husband, Mandlenkosi, denied all knowledge of the theft to police.

He said their marriage had been on the rocks and his wife would not give him "straight answers" about where she got her money.

He claimed he was afraid of making the situation worse by asking too many questions.

He also denied calling Manus, being near his home or helping his wife steal from the wealthy businessman. The pair had been married for 10 years.

Manus said the alleged theft had not only affected his family, but his former employee.

"I would say to her: 'Go. God be with you.' But the legal system drags things for so long and I cannot reverse the charges I laid," he said.

The trial was postponed this week because Mabhengu's lawyer was not well and could not appear on her behalf.

Mabhengu, who was granted R2000 bail, will return to court in February.