- FAO warns seafood sector highly vulnerable to widespread food fraud
- Seafood fraud includes adulteration, species substitution and false labeling
- FAO urges stronger traceability, regulation and genetic testing technologies
Global seafood output reached 185.4 million metric tons in 2022, with trade valued at $195 billion. But a report published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at the end of February has highlighted the scale of food fraud in the sector, a problem threatening public health, consumer confidence and market stability.
A Sector Particularly Vulnerable
The fishing and aquaculture industries are particularly vulnerable to fraud. According to data compiled in the report, the probability of fraud in the sector is estimated at 20.6%, well above levels recorded for meat (13.4%) or fruit and vegetables (10.4%).
According to the FAO, this vulnerability stems partly…
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