News24 | Eastern Cape official to appear in court over alleged R150k fuel fraud scheme

An Eastern Cape government official is set to appear in court for allegedly misappropriating R150 000 from his department through a fuel fraud scheme. (Sol de Zuasnabar Brebbia/ Getty Images).

An Eastern Cape government official is set to appear in court for allegedly misappropriating R150 000 from his department through a fuel fraud scheme.

The 39-year-old, an office manager at the Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the Chris Hani district, is alleged to have misused the department's fuel card between April 2022 and August 2022.

On Tuesday, the accused received a summons from the Hawks to appear in the Cofimvaba Magistrate's Court.

Lieutenant-Colonel Avele Fumba said the alleged fraud was flagged by the department's assistant director of security management and anti-corruption services, who reportedly acted on a complaint regarding suspected misuse of fuel for a departmental vehicle.

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"Reports indicate that the vehicle in question was allegedly used by the suspect, who holds the position of office manager at the same department.

"The matter was subsequently referred to the Hawks for further investigation. During the probe, the Hawks discovered that between April 2022 and August 2022, discrepancies were identified between the kilometres travelled and the fuel consumption of the vehicle."

Fumba said further investigation revealed that the official allegedly used the department-issued fleet card to refuel the designated vehicle at a petrol station but would then refuel another vehicle using the same card.

"This practice resulted in an actual loss of approximately over R150 000 to the department," said Fumba.

He said Hawks collaborated with the National Prosecuting Authority.

The accused will make his first appearance on 31 January.