Free State Hawks arrest former Sibanye Stillwater employee accused of committing fraud worth over R1 million in Welkom

Fraud isn’t just about big corporate scandals — sometimes it happens right under a company’s nose, by someone who once worked for them.

That’s exactly what’s happened with a former employee at Sibanye Stillwater Mine, who’s now found himself on the wrong side of the law.

Former Sibanye Stillwater Worker Arrested for Fraud in Free State

The Free State Hawks recently arrested a 40-year-old ex-employee of the Sibanye Stillwater Mine, following allegations of fraud that date back to 2021.

The Welkom Hawks confirmed that the suspect was officially summoned by the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit on June 8, 2025.

Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti, the spokesperson for the Hawks, said the man has since been secured and is set to face charges of fraud in court.

How the Scam Went Down — Following the Paper Trail

According to Matoti, the fraud allegedly took place between April and May of 2021.

During that time, the suspect is said to have misused genuine documents belonging to one of the mine’s service providers to create fake quotations.

These fraudulent quotes reportedly led to Sibanye Stillwater Mine losing over R1 million, sparking an internal investigation.

The mine’s Fraud and Corruption Unit picked up the case and started digging into what really happened to the money.

The Investigation That Led to Arrest

Once the mine’s internal investigators wrapped up their work, the case was handed over to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit based in Welkom for a deeper dive.

The evidence gathered was strong enough to convince the courts to issue a summons, which paved the way for the suspect’s arrest.

The man is expected to appear for the first time in Theunissen Magistrates Court on July 22, 2025.