image source
A 39-year-old office manager from the Eastern Cape Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) is facing serious charges after being arrested for masterminding a fraudulent fuel card scheme that allegedly defrauded the department of R150,000. The arrest, made by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Crime Investigation team based in Komani, follows an intensive probe into the misuse of government resources.
The scheme was uncovered when the Assistant Director of Security Management and Anti-Corruption Services at Cogta raised concerns about possible “fruitless and wasteful expenditure” linked to fuel usage. These concerns prompted a closer look at the department’s fuel consumption records, specifically between April and August 2022. It didn’t take long for investigators to discover a pattern of discrepancies involving government vehicles.
According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba, the office manager allegedly exploited a departmental fleet card intended for refueling official vehicles. The suspect’s practice was to refuel one vehicle using the fleet card, only to later return with a different vehicle and use the same card to top it up. This deceptive tactic resulted in over R150,000 in losses for the department.
What began as an internal audit quickly escalated when the Hawks were brought in to investigate. Their findings revealed the full extent of the fraud, confirming that the manager’s actions were a deliberate effort to siphon off government funds.
The accused is set to appear in court on January 31 at the Cofimvaba Magistrate’s Court, where charges of fraud and theft will be formally presented. The case serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in managing public resources and the ongoing fight against corruption within government departments.
