A 38-year-old undocumented Mozambican national, Reginaldo Alberto Nuvunga, was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a sophisticated diesel card cloning scam. The verdict was handed down by the Mbibane Magistrate’s Court on 14 July 2025, with one year suspended for five years, conditional on no further offenses. Nuvunga will face deportation after serving his sentence.
Nuvunga and his accomplice, Kenneth Maoto, were originally arrested on 22 January 2021 for using cloned bank cards to fraudulently purchase diesel and refill a fuel browser—now seized by authorities. The case came to light after a tip-off from a bank’s fraud investigation unit in Emalahleni.
The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team, operating out of Middelburg, tracked the suspects even as they attended court in Mbibane. While Nuvunga remains behind bars, Maoto was granted bail but later disappeared. A warrant has been issued, and police are urging the public to help locate him.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Captain Jacobus Lombard at 082 521 3225. All tips will be handled confidentially.
Mpumalanga Hawks Acting Provincial Head Brigadier Danie Hall warned citizens and businesses to stay alert against card cloning scams, emphasizing their potential to cause significant financial harm.
This case highlights the ongoing battle against sophisticated fraud networks that cross borders and exploit financial systems.
