Free State stokvel fraudster jailed for 10 years over Christmas grocery scam

A 31-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years’ direct imprisonment after defrauding stokvel members in Bloemfontein and Botshabelo by promising to deliver Christmas groceries, alcohol and household goods.

Lebohang Mokatedi was sentenced by the Bloemfontein Regional Court on Thursday after being convicted of multiple counts of fraud, theft and money laundering.

His company, Lebohang Society and Financial Credit Service (Pty) Ltd, was also fined R1 million. The entire fine was suspended for five years, subject to conditions set by the court.

Stokvel members paid monthly contributions

According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti, Mokatedi introduced a Christmas stokvel in 2024, promising members a selection of groceries, alcoholic beverages, household items and ingredients for relishes at the end of the year.

Members were expected to contribute between R100 and R500 every month towards the promised goods.

Several people from Bloemfontein and Botshabelo joined the scheme and made their monthly payments.

However, when the time came to deliver the goods, Mokatedi allegedly disappeared and failed to fulfil the arrangements.

The affected members subsequently opened fraud and theft cases at various police stations in the two areas.

Hawks investigation led to arrest in East London

The cases were initially investigated by detectives in Bloemfontein and Botshabelo before being transferred to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in Bloemfontein.

Matoti said an intensive investigation led to Mokatedi’s arrest in East London, Eastern Cape.

He was convicted on 8 October on multiple counts of fraud, theft and money laundering.

Free State police commissioner Lieutenant-General Solly Lesia and provincial Hawks head Major-General Mokgadi Bokaba welcomed the sentence and commended the investigators involved in the case.

Court hands down 10 years of direct imprisonment

The Bloemfontein Regional Court sentenced Mokatedi to 15 years’ imprisonment, with five years suspended for five years.

The suspension is conditional on him not being convicted of the same offence during that period. He will therefore serve 10 years in prison.

His company was separately sentenced to a R1 million fine, which was wholly suspended for five years on condition that it is not convicted of a cybercrime-related fraud offence during that period.

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Source: IOL