A 38-year-old Phoenix mother of three has been sentenced to house arrest and avoided immediate imprisonment after being convicted by the Durban High Court for stealing R2.9 million from the law firm where she was employed. Faieza Kalick, of Southgate, Phoenix, received an eight-year prison sentence, which was suspended for five years on condition that she does not commit fraud or theft during this period.
Instead of jail time, Kalick was sentenced to three years of correctional supervision under Section 276(1)(h) of the Criminal Procedure Act. This order includes 18 months of the house arrest component, during which she is confined to her residential area unless granted prior approval by the Commissioner of Correctional Services. She must also perform 16 hours of free community service per month for 18 months.
According to her ex-husband, Nadeem Bux, Kalick previously admitted to stealing from another employer while working for a company in Ballito in 2013. He stated that no criminal charges were pursued during that incident.
Speaking to the Phoenix Tabloid, Bux said: “I told her then that if something like this happened again, I would leave her.” Bux claimed that in 2024 Kalick informed him that she had been caught stealing money from her employer. He alleged that the amount initially disclosed to him was approximately R500 000 before increasing to millions of rands. He further alleged that R2.9 million was stolen from an account linked to the company.
Following the discovery of the fraud, Bux said he moved out of the residence they shared. Bux also alleged that money was transferred into his bank account without his knowledge. “She told me it was an incentive from work. When money was transferred into my account, I immediately sent it back to her,” he said.
According to Bux, a transfer of R50 120 into his account resulted in him becoming embroiled in the criminal investigation. He was subsequently arrested alongside other accused but maintained that he had no involvement in the scheme. “I was able to provide evidence showing that any money that came into my account was transferred back to her. After a year of attending court and fighting the allegations, all charges against me were withdrawn,” he said.
Bux claimed he provided investigators and his attorney with documentation, recordings and other evidence relating to the matter. He said he is now pursuing full custody of the couple’s three children.
Kalick’s former mother-in-law, Zuraida Bux, said the family first became aware of the allegations in July 2024 when her son returned home and informed them that Kalick had allegedly lost her job after stealing from her employer’s trust account. “When he came home and showed us the documents, we were shocked,” she said.
Zuraida Bux said her son was among seven people arrested during the investigation and that each accused was granted R20 000 bail. She expressed dissatisfaction with the sentence imposed by the court. “She has ruined my son’s life and affected many other people. I believe she should have received a harsher sentence,” she said.
She further alleged that stolen funds had been used to finance an extravagant lifestyle, including holidays, expensive gifts and spending on family members and associates.
As part of the conditions of her sentence, Kalick is required to complete life orientation as well as alcohol and drug rehabilitation programmes and must refrain from the use of drugs for the duration of the sentence, except where medication is prescribed by a medical health professional. The Commissioner of Correctional Services has been authorised to suspend the house arrest component of the sentence, but for no longer than six months of the term.
