9 hours ago
Fraudulent fuel scheme busted: Bogus eThekwini employee caught refuelling private car
A man impersonating an eThekwini Municipality employee was arrested for fraudulently refuelling vehicles using City resources.
The suspect allegedly admitted to earning R2 000 daily as part of a fuel theft scheme involving privately owned vehicles.
The City uncovered significant financial losses as the vehicle refuelled at an amount of R78 000 daily.
A man purporting to be an eThekwini Municipality employee was caught fraudulently filling diesel at one of the petrol stations used by the City's fleet.
The man was arrested after a tip-off from the Municipal City Fleet Directorate, which noted that municipal vehicles were refuelling more than ten times daily.
The City said the suspect, dressed in a municipal uniform, admitted he was not a municipality employee.
He allegedly revealed he was hired by a private individual who paid him R2 000 daily.
Forensic investigators from the City discovered that a fuel master (automated refuelling dispenser) belonging to the water and sanitation directorate had been used to fuel privately owned cars.
This fuel master was linked to a City vehicle that had been stationary for a long time.
'The suspect had duplicated the number plate and branding on the side of the [stationary] car's doors to make it appear similar to other municipal vehicles,' the City said.
Its director of integrity and investigations, Jimmy Ngcobo, added municipal employees were colluding with external individuals to commit fraud and corruption.
'The culprit had four vehicles fitted with 750-litre fuel tanks at the base of each single-cab van. Diesel was stored in these tanks and then resold,' he said.
'Each vehicle generated approximately R78 000 a day.'
Ngcobo added the suspect made daily rounds, filling diesel at more than 15 petrol stations across the city.
'The municipality has suffered a significant financial loss, which is why we are calling on various stakeholders to report fraud and corruption whenever they witness it,' he said.
