MOKOPANE – The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit has arrested a former company director and two ex-payroll administrators for alleged fraud amounting to R6.3 million.

The three accused, Monique Nel (52; payroll administrator), Ruan van Zyl (23; payroll administrator) and Wanda van Zyl (57; director), all former employees of the Global Strike Security Company, were arrested on Sunday (May 19) after they handed themselves over to the police.

According to the provincial Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa, the accused allegedly submitted over 33 fraudulent invoices to Anglo-American Platinum for security services that were never rendered between December 20, 2018 and September 20, 2021.

Mmuroa said payments were processed before the company uncovered the scheme.

“Anglo-American Platinum got suspicious and conducted internal forensic investigations which revealed a loss of R6.3 million. The matter was reported to the Mahwelereng police station and subsequently handed over to the Hawks’ Polokwane-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit for further investigation,” he said.

A thorough investigation successfully linked four individuals from the security firm to the committed crime, though one of the implicated individuals has since died.

Following the completion of the investigation, the case was handed to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which authorised warrants of arrest.

“The accused briefly appeared in the Mahwelereng Magistrate’s Court yesterday facing 26 counts of fraud. The case was postponed to today for a bail application,” he said.