Ex-Sibanye Worker Arrested in R1 Million Fraud Case: A Bitter Blow to Trust

A web of fake quotes, a million-rand loss, and a mine left picking up the pieces.

It’s the kind of betrayal that hits where it hurts the most—inside the walls of a workplace that once trusted you. That’s the reality Sibanye Stillwater Mine is facing after a former employee was arrested for allegedly defrauding the company of more than R1 million.

A paper trail with a price tag

The arrest, carried out by the Free State Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit in Welkom, follows a forensic investigation into financial irregularities dating back to April and May 2021.

According to Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti, spokesperson for the Hawks, the 40-year-old suspect allegedly used authentic documents from one of the mine’s service providers to create fake quotations. Those doctored quotes were then submitted internally, leading the company to unknowingly approve and process payments.

The result? A staggering financial blow that forced the mining giant to open a dedicated investigation into the loss.

When internal audits uncover betrayal

The fraud didn’t go unnoticed for long. Sibanye Stillwater’s own Fraud and Corruption Unit picked up the scent, launching an internal probe to track the money and identify the source of the deception.

Once they’d gathered enough evidence, the mine handed over the findings to the Hawks, triggering a criminal case that culminated in the suspect being subpoenaed earlier this month.

With prima facie evidence in hand, the Hawks secured an arrest warrant. The man is expected to appear before the Theunissen Magistrates Court on 22 July 2025 to face formal fraud charges.

Mining sector faces a growing internal threat

Corporate fraud isn’t a new problem for South Africa’s mining industry. In a sector where billions of rands move through procurement pipelines and supplier chains, internal fraud can be both subtle and devastating. And the consequences aren’t just financial they strike at the trust and accountability that companies depend on to function.

Industry insiders say cases like this one highlight the need for tighter internal controls, stricter vetting of service providers, and regular forensic audits even in departments considered low-risk.

How can companies protect themselves?

For businesses watching this story unfold, it’s a cautionary tale. According to experts in corporate governance, the key to prevention lies in creating a culture of transparency and early detection.

Here are three essential steps:

• Segregation of duties: Don’t let one person control procurement from start to finish.

• Regular audits: Independent audits can catch discrepancies that internal teams might overlook.

• Whistleblower protection: Make it safe for employees to report suspicious behaviour without fear of retaliation.

“Trust is easy to give, hard to earn back,” one Johannesburg-based fraud investigator told us. “That’s what makes internal fraud so damaging it breaks something you can’t always rebuild.”

A community left to reflect

In the town of Theunissen and the surrounding mining communities, the news has triggered a mix of frustration and disappointment. Locals familiar with the mine and its operations took to social media, calling the fraud a “selfish betrayal” and “a stain on honest workers who depend on these jobs.”

Others expressed sympathy for the colleagues left behind, now under tighter scrutiny because of one individual’s alleged actions.

As the court date approaches, Sibanye Stillwater and many other South African companies are left asking a tough question: How do you build a workplace that’s not just productive, but protected?

{Source: The South African}

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