Eight alleged petrol card fraudsters arrested in Eastern Cape
Eight people have been arrested for alleged petrol card fraud in Mthatha, Eastern Cape. The eight are all petrol attendants at a garage in Mthatha.
Lindile Promise Bele (40), Mbingeleli Sokanyile (35), Mfundo Nomquphu (29), Lebona Mofoka (38), Gcobani Ngcana (24), Mzwandile Manciya (22), Mziwanele Tshewula (24) and Thamsanqa Dlomo (24) were arrested by the Mthatha based Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation on 26 and 27 January 2023 respectively for charges of numerous counts of petrol card fraud.
They all appeared before the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 27 January 2023 where Bele was released on R5000 bail and the rest were released on warning.
“It is alleged that from October to November 2022, petrol cards of five Emergency Medical Services (EMS) state vehicles from Qumbu Base were fraudulently used whereas those vehicles were grounded due to mechanical problems,” said Captain Yolisa Mgolodela.
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It is alleged that Sokanyile was the supervisor at a service station in Mthatha was given petrol cards to steal the petrol.
Sokanyile allegedly gave the petrol cards to attendants to use them as if they were utilised by EMS vehicles.
“The petrol attendants would receive R20.00 each from the received cash,” Mgolodela further alleged.
He added that the matter was reported to the Hawks for an intensive probing which culminated in the arrest of the eight.
The investigation revealed that the garage was prejudiced cash to the value R32 000.
The matter was remanded to 20 February 2023 for legal representation.
