Eastern Cape Man Sentenced for Vehicle Fraud Scheme

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Vehicle Fraud

A 56-year-old man from the Eastern Cape, Zamile Nongogo, has been sentenced to six years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended, for his role in a vehicle fraud scheme. The sentencing took place at the East London Commercial Crimes Court on Monday, following his conviction for defrauding financial institutions out of over R600,000. Nongogo, arrested in October 2019 alongside his accomplice Thobani Mabizela by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (the Hawks), orchestrated the scam between January 2018 and February 2019.

The case sheds light on the persistent issue of vehicle fraud in South Africa and the efforts of law enforcement to tackle it.

How the Fraud Scheme Worked

Nongogo masterminded a plan to help undeserving vehicle finance applicants secure loans they couldn’t repay. He did this by creating fake pay slips and other supporting documents, which were submitted to a financial institution in East London. According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, “Supporting documents were submitted to a financial institution in East London. Subsequently, vehicles worth over R600,000 were approved and successfully purchased after the aforesaid documents were verified telephonically with the fabricated employers.”

The fraudsters tricked the bank by setting up fake employer contacts to confirm the false documents during telephonic checks. Once the vehicles were handed over to the applicants, no payments were made. The banks later uncovered inconsistencies in the paperwork, leading them to report the matter to the Hawks for investigation.

Investigation and Arrests

The Hawks launched an investigation into the scam, resulting in the arrests of Nongogo and Mabizela in October 2019. Their probe revealed that the fraudulent activities spanned over a year, from January 2018 to February 2019. The duo’s scheme exploited weaknesses in the bank’s verification process, allowing them to secure high-value vehicles under false pretences.

Court Outcomes

After a thorough legal process, Nongogo was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison. However, the sentence was wholly suspended for five years, provided he does not commit fraud during that time. This means he avoids jail for now, but any further fraud convictions could see him serve the full term. Despite the suspension, Nongogo remains in custody as he faces additional trials for other unrelated matters. The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm, reflecting the seriousness of his criminal conduct.

Mabizela, Nongogo’s accomplice, was found guilty in April 2025. His sentencing is scheduled for 30 June 2025, and the outcome will likely depend on his role in the scheme and any other factors the court considers.

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