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A Joburg Market employee working as a Senior Financial Controller was arrested yesterday afternoon by members of the Hawks for committing fraud totaling R5.5-million.  

The police are hot on the heels of her two accomplices, a colleague and a member of a public.  

The suspect is expected to appear in the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court today where she will be charged for fraud.

It is alleged that the suspect and her accomplice who was acting on the position of Compliance Accountant had the powers to administer buyers guarantees at the Joburg Market.  The guarantees were loaded into a buyers card belonging to a deceased person without supporting documents from the bank as required. 

The buyers card was reactivated on the 26th October 2020 without any supporting documents. The suspects then proceeded to load guarantees of R40 000.  The amount increased to R600 000 in March 2021 and to about R5.5-million in July 2021.

It is also alleged that the suspects worked with a member of a public who used the buyers card to buy fruits and vegetables at the Joburg Market and sold them at a discounted amount to various business owners.  The three suspects then pocketed the proceeds from the sales.

The suspects are believed to have fled the country.

The City of Johannesburg’s Executive Mayor, Councillor Mpho Moerane said, “I would like to commend the members of the Hawks and the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service department (GFIS) which acted swiftly to deal with the matter.  We are confident that the other two suspects will be arrested soon”.

“Corruption has no place in this administration and we will work tirelessly, and in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, to ensure that the residents of Johannesburg receive the quality services they deserve,” he added.

The City would like to encourage people to report any fraud and corruption activities through the 24hour tipoff hotline 0800 002 587 or visit the GFIS offices situated at 48 Ameshoff Street in Braamfontein.

Issued by the City of Johannesburg