Fourth suspect arrested in R700k GWK fraud case

A FOURTH suspect has been drawn into an elaborate fraud and money laundering case involving more than R700,000 allegedly siphoned from agricultural giant GWK.

Hawks Northern Cape spokesperson Warrant Officer Nomthandazo Mnisi confirmed that 43-year-old Saal Andrico Brenton was arrested at his home this week and swiftly hauled before the Prieska Magistrate’s Court.

He now joins three other accused - a former fuel station supervisor, his wife, and a former administrative clerk - who are facing a staggering list of charges linked to a suspected criminal scheme that ran for over a year and a half.

They are accused of defrauding GWK of R705,005.50.

Investigators from the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime unit allege that between April 2020 and October 2021, former supervisor Schalk Pienaar, 37, used his position to orchestrate a series of fraudulent transactions. He is accused of unlawfully registering his wife, Leolene Pienaar, 34, as a supplier at the GWK fuel station without declaring their relationship - in violation of company policy.

What followed, according to the investigation, was a string of falsified invoices allegedly submitted by Schalk Pienaar’s colleague, administrative clerk Patricia Booysen, 34, in favour of Leolene’s company. Once payments were made, authorities say, funds were funnelled not only into the wife’s account but also into Booysen’s. 

Pienaar, his wife, and Booysen were arrested on December 18, 2024, and are facing 39 counts of corruption, 48 counts of fraud, and 78 counts of money laundering. They were later released on bail.

The financial trail eventually led to Brenton, who allegedly received a portion of the stolen funds, resulting in five charges of money laundering.

The case has drawn attention for its layers of alleged corruption, internal collusion, and the audacity of a scheme that flew under the radar for months. Pienaar resigned before the matter was handed over for investigation, while Booysen’s employment was terminated.

Brenton was granted R300 bail this week. He and the other three accused - who face a combined total of 165 charges - are expected to appear in court again on Tuesday, 27 May, for a pre-trial conference.