Limpopo royal family says attorney and metro cop couple stole from deceased estate
The Maswanganyi royal family in Giyani, Limpopo, says it was defrauded of nearly R3 million from the estate of the late chief Hlengani Maswanganyi, adding
The Maswanganyi royal family in Giyani, Limpopo, says it was defrauded of nearly R3 million from the estate of the late chief Hlengani Maswanganyi, adding its name to a growing list of alleged victims linked to attorney Charlotte Tibana and her husband, Tshwane metro police officer Peter Nonyane.
The couple appeared in the Polokwane magistrate’s court on Tuesday for a bail application. They face charges of fraud, theft and money laundering involving about R1.75 million, according to the case now before the court.
Family says process was delayed, then diverted
Family spokesperson Thembani Maswanganyi said the trouble began when another attorney approached the family in August 2023 and promised to help speed up the sharing of the deceased estate. That lawyer later referred the matter to Tibana, saying he did not handle executorship matters but knew someone who did.
Thembani said the process started in November 2023. By January 2024, Tibana had obtained executorship. Payments to the family only began in 2025, he said, with the last one made in July 2026.
That timeline has sharpened the family’s anger. The Maswanganyis say money that should have gone to heirs was drained instead. The family has described the loss as stealing “from us”.
Case adds to wider fraud allegations
Tibana, 33, and Nonyane, known as “Gagash”, are already facing scrutiny over allegations that they unlawfully withdrew funds belonging to two deceased estates. The total amount at issue in the criminal case is about R1.75 million.
The latest claim from the Maswanganyi family suggests the fallout may be larger than the sums already laid out in court. If proven, it would point to a wider pattern around the handling of estates, a sensitive area where families often depend on attorneys to manage paperwork, distribute assets and settle debts after a death.
Estate fraud cases have surfaced in several countries in recent years, often exploiting delays, trust and the complexity of succession procedures. In South Africa, where family wealth can be tied up in property, pension benefits and other assets, disputes over deceased estates can leave relatives waiting months or even years for money they believe is theirs.
Court hearing continues
On Tuesday, the Polokwane magistrate’s court was hearing the couple’s bail application. The matter remains before the court, and the allegations have not been tested in full.
For the Maswanganyi family, though, the issue is already personal. Thembani said the family entered the estate process in good faith and expected the matter to be finalised, not to end in allegations of theft and money laundering tied to nearly R3 million.