A 29-year-old man who allegedly drove off with a R455,900 Toyota Fortuner in 2020 without ever paying a single instalment is now behind bars — five years later.
Mthobisi Shezi appeared before the Delmas Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 21 July 2025, facing fraud charges linked to the brazen vehicle scam. According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Màgonseni Nkosi, Shezi was tracked down and arrested on Saturday, 19 July, in Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal, by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption and Serious Commercial Crime Investigation units.
Shezi allegedly used forged bank statements and a fake payslip to secure vehicle financing for the high-end SUV in 2020. Despite successfully acquiring the vehicle from a dealership, not a single payment has been made over the past five years.
The elaborate fraud slipped through the cracks for years before being flagged, leading to a detailed probe by the Hawks. Their investigation eventually uncovered the deception and led to Shezi’s arrest — a major win for the elite crime-fighting unit.
Major General Nico Gerber, head of the Hawks in the province, applauded the team for their persistence. “This arrest shows our commitment to rooting out fraud and commercial crime. No one is above the law,” he said.
Shezi has been remanded in custody while he secures legal representation. He is scheduled to reappear in court on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, where more details are expected to emerge.
The case has reignited concerns over the ease with which fake documents can be used to defraud financial institutions — and the long tail of consequences that often follow.
