A Free State factory manager accused of extorting money from his workplace to buy himself a car has been arrested.
A sting operation by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) resulted in the arrest of the 26-year-old factory manager of the Bloemhoedskraal solar power plant in Virginia on Monday.
Provincial Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti said they had received information about extortion, following which they took action.
“The suspect allegedly extorted monthly cash payments of R10,000 from a subcontractor for four months, threatening to remove the contractor’s machinery if the payments were not made, involving a total sum of R50,000.
The project manager’s preliminary investigation revealed additional victims who were victims of similar extortion.
According to Matoti, it was also revealed that the suspect had recently bought himself a second-hand car with R130,000 cash.
“The matter was reported to Welcome SCI for further investigation, and an undercover operation in terms of Section 252A of the Criminal Procedure Act was approved by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on January 30, 2026.
“During the arrest, two Samsung mobile phones and cash worth R10,000 were seized,” Matoti said.
He will appear in the Virginia Magistrate’s Court in the Free State on corruption charges.
IOL
Robin-Lee Francke
iol.co.za