The trial of the married couple, accused of defrauding the Twelve Apostles Church in Christ of R7.9 m, started at the East London Magistrates court on Monday.
Zola Maziyana and his wife Zukiswa, who were arrested at their Sunnyridge home in June 2015, are facing 53 counts of fraud and 123 counts of money laundering under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
A commercial crimes witness provided the court with evidence of bank documents which revealed that more than R1 million had been used to purchase a home.
Other payments included purchases at a local hardware store, monthly vehicle installments and transfers that were made to his wife's personal bank account.
According to the President of the church Austin Nongqunga, Zola Maziyana became a member of the church in 2006 and was employed as the church's driver and messenger.
Nongqunga said the husband was trusted by the executive members of the church and was then assigned to investigate money that was owed to the church by a prominent insurance company.
He said after Maziyana kept on making up stories about the Insurance company payout to the church and not attending meetings, they became suspicious.
The trial will continue for the rest of the week.
Both of the accused remain out on bail.
