Five suspects aged between 26 and 46 are expected to appear before the Stutterheim Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 22 October 2026, in connection with alleged fraud involving more than R1.7 million worth of seeds and fertiliser.
The suspects were arrested in Stutterheim on Wednesday during an intelligence-driven operation involving police and private security companies.
Police allege that the suspects formed part of a syndicate that targeted businesses across the Chris Hani District by ordering goods and using fraudulent proof of payment to collect them.
The investigation followed an incident in Nxuba, where seeds and fertiliser worth more than R1.7 million were allegedly taken. Officers later tracked a truck transporting a further order of 120 bags of fertiliser to Stutterheim, where five individuals were allegedly found offloading the goods.
Police also recovered an eight-tonne Fuso truck, a stolen Isuzu double-cab bakkie reported stolen in Gqeberha in September 2023, two cellphones and an undisclosed amount of cash. The recovered items are valued at more than R694,700.
District Commissioner Major General Rudolph Adolph praised the joint team and acknowledged the private security companies for their assistance in the operation.
No tags for this post.
