Dear neighbors,
Like many of you, I have been disgusted by the fraud against our state, which has wasted taxpayer dollars and stolen from people who desperately need services. Here’s an update on our plans to fight fraud and ensure the integrity of Minnesota’s public programs.
First, let me be clear: I firmly believe in a strong social safety net backed by the state. It’s a core tenet of good governance. To deliver on this promise, state agencies overseeing these programs must operate with transparency, accountability, and efficiency. We can fight fraud while giving the safety net the strengthening it deserves.
For the last five years, several of our agencies – particularly the Department of Human Services (DHS) – have struggled with ensuring state funds are going towards their intended use. This, compounded by a decades-long trend toward outsourcing programs and program oversight to…
THE ISUZU MOTORS PAYROLL FRAUD (GQEBERHA, SA)
Date: February 16, 2026 Perpetrator: Natasja Slabbert (42)
Case Description: In a case that hit home for the Eastern Cape business community, Natasja Slabbert, a payroll administrator at Isuzu Motors South Africa’s Struandale plant, was arrested for an alleged R10.5 million fraud. The scheme, which began surfacing in late 2024, exploited the very systems designed to manage employee compensation. Slabbert allegedly manipulated payroll records to create false entries that appeared as legitimate deductions and contributions on employee payslips. In reality, these “deductions” were being diverted into her personal bank account.
The fraud was only uncovered after diligent employees noticed that their net “take-home” pay was significantly lower than expected, despite the gross amounts on their payslips remaining high. Following a thorough probe by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team and the NPA’s Specialised Commercial Crime Unit, it was discovered that in August 2024 alone, over R626,000 was unlawfully transferred. Slabbert was granted bail of R5,000 on February 17, 2026, and the case has been postponed to later in the month for further legal proceedings. This case highlights the critical need for “segregation of duties” in payroll departments, as a single point of failure allowed for the systematic siphoning of millions over nearly two years.
Link to Original: PE Express – Isuzu Payroll Fraud