Gqeberha Spar Duo Accused of Stealing R2.3 Million in Daily Cash Scheme

Two former senior staff members of Acres Spar in Gqeberha are facing serious criminal charges after allegedly siphoning R2.3 million from the business over a two-year period.

The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Gqeberha arrested former general manager Nicole Bekker (37) and former bookkeeper Chantelle Erasmus (48) on Wednesday, 23 April. The pair appeared in court the same day and were each granted bail of R5,000.

Cash stolen over two years

According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, the alleged fraud occurred between 2021 and 2023. During that time, Bekker and Erasmus were entrusted with recording and depositing the store’s daily cash takings into the business account. Instead, they allegedly pocketed the money for themselves, sometimes instructing others to make selective deposits to avoid detection.

“The suspects reportedly shared the funds in tranches and ordered a third party to assist with selective deposits into the store’s account,” said Mhlakuvana.

Audit exposes financial discrepancies

The alleged fraud was uncovered during an internal audit, which flagged discrepancies in the store’s financial records. The matter was referred to the Hawks, whose investigation confirmed that the two women had conspired to steal from the business.

“As a result of their actions, the Spar suffered a financial loss amounting to R2.3 million,” Mhlakuvana said.

The case has been postponed to 17 June to allow the defence team to receive the investigation docket. Bekker and Erasmus face charges of fraud, theft, and money laundering.

Acting provincial head of the Hawks, Brigadier Romeo Fredrick Petrus, praised the investigative team for their work, describing the arrests as a “step forward in addressing corporate crime.”

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Sourced:IOL

Picture: Accidents.co.za