A 40-year-old former employee of Sibanye Stillwater Mine, has been arrested by the Free State Hawks on allegations of fraud.
The Welkom Hawks reported that the suspect was initially subpoenaed by the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation on 8 June 2025.
“He has been secured before court to answer to a charge of fraud,” said Free State Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti.
SIBANYE STILLWATER MINE FOLLOWS THE PAPERTRAIL
According to Matoti, during the period of April 2021 and May 2021, the suspect allegedly committed fraud at the time. She said he allegedly used legitimate documents of one of the mine’s service providers to create fraudulent quotations.
The fake quotes allegedly cost Sibanye Stillwater Mine a loss of over R1 million. Matoti said this loss caused the mine to investigate what had happened to the funds and the investigation was assigned to a specific department.
“His fraudulent activities came to the attention of the Fraud and Corruption Unit of Sibanye Stillwater Mine,” said Matoti.
THE LONG AND UNFORGETTING ARM OF THE LAW
Matoti said once the mine’s Fraud and Corruption Unit had concluded their investigation, a criminal case was registered and referred to the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Welkom for a further probe.
She said the prima facie evidence collected by the unit was enough to convince the court to issue a summons, which led to the arrest of the suspect.
The man is set to make his first court appearance before the Theunissen Magistrates Court, on 22 July 2025.
WHAT CAN COMPANIES DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM EMPLOYEES COMMITING FRAUD?
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