ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WBFF) — Maryland leaders are split over whether to cooperate with a new White House anti-fraud crackdown, even as state officials admit they cannot fully account for potential misuse of taxpayer-funded programs.
A new executive order signed Monday by President Donald Trump creates a federal task force to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse in government benefit programs, including those administered by states with federal funding. The effort, led by Vice President JD Vance, directs agencies to audit compliance, identify fraud networks, and pursue enforcement.
The White House’s move comes as questions about oversight and accountability in Maryland persist, including concerns raised by state officials themselves about whether large-scale fraud seen in other states could be occurring locally.
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 16: U.S. President Donald Trump holds up a document that he…
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