Barberton mine fraud and theft, 2 employees arrested, 3rd sought

South African Police Service

Barberton mine fraud and theft, 2 employees arrested, 3rd sought
Barberton mine fraud and theft, 2 employees arrested, 3rd sought. Photo: SAPS

Bhekinkosi Fana Madonsela (30), a former Administration Clerk at Barberton mine, appeared before the Barberton Magistrate Court on Tuesday 11 May 2021. He was arrested by members of the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team with a warrant of arrest for Fraud, Theft and Money Laundering on Tuesday, 11 May 2021.

Madonsela’s arrest followed his alleged link to a share of R300 000.00 received from his accomplices. He, along with Precious Nontobeko Magongo (36), were former Barberton mine employees, working as Clerk Administrators. Magongo was the first suspect to be arrested on the 1 March 2021 for receiving undue payment of almost half a Million rand (R497 885.00) fraudulently.

These undue payments were reportedly carried out by the main suspect, Simphiwe Sangwenyi (38), also a mine employee working as a financial Administrator. Sangweni is still being sought by the Hawks and a warrant of arrest was issued by Court on the 5 November 2020 against him.

The trio colluded and prejudice the Barberton mine a total loss of R ‪1 156 700.00 through misrepresentation. Sangweni transferred money from Barberton mine account to his personal account and further distributed it to different accounts of Magongo and Madonsela. Internal investigation was conducted and the accused disappeared.

The case against Madonsela was postponed to 12 July 2021 and he was released on R5 000.00 bail. He is expected to appear along with his co-accused Magongo.

Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of Sangweni is requested to contact the investigating officer Captain Dietlof Meyer on 071 ‪481 2977. The information will be treated with confidentiality.

SAPS Newsroom

SOURCESouth African Police Service