Let’s be honest: very few people or brokers are going to feel sorry for any bank that gets defrauded. That’s probably the first thing worth acknowledging, because it’s also where the problem starts. Once something gets labelled as “only hurting a bank”, it becomes easy to ignore. Easy to justify and look the other way.
But before you do that, it’s worth asking a simple question. Would you knowingly help fund an Organised Crime Group (OCG)? Would you knowingly support something that contributes to terrorism, violence or exploitation?
I am going to assume that most brokers would say no without hesitation, but the reality is, you don’t get asked that question directly.
You get asked to do something that looks completely different on the surface, and the connection to anything more serious is far enough removed that it doesn’t feel real. And that’s where I think brokers and bankers get…
CLICK HERE to read the FULL Who is the real victim in mortgage fraud? – The Adviser article.
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