Former Manager Convicted After R4.7 Million Fraud Scheme Rocks Limpopo Company
Former company manager sentenced after siphoning nearly R4.7 million from employer over four years
A trusted company manager who was responsible for overseeing financial records and bookkeeping has been convicted after defrauding her employer of nearly R4.7 million in a scheme that unfolded over four years.
The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit in Polokwane has welcomed the conviction and sentencing of 53-year-old Collette Bronkhorst, whose actions left a significant financial scar on a Marble Hall-based business.
According to investigators, Bronkhorst was employed as a manager at Valley’s Best, where she held a position of trust and had direct access to the company’s financial systems. Between 2010 and 2014, she allegedly manipulated company records and authorised unlawful payments that channelled company funds into her personal bank account as well as her husband’s business account.
The total amount fraudulently transferred reached R4,697,674.88.
Years of deception uncovered
The fraud remained hidden for years before investigators uncovered the financial irregularities. Following a Hawks investigation in Marble Hall, Bronkhorst was arrested on 23 June 2015.
The case would take more than a decade to reach its conclusion.
In court proceedings, Bronkhorst entered into a Section 105A plea agreement with the State, effectively admitting her role in the offences.
Guilty on 661 counts
The matter was heard in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 10 June 2026.
Bronkhorst pleaded guilty to an astonishing 660 counts of fraud and one count of defeating the ends of justice.
The court accepted her plea agreement and found her guilty on all charges.
The conviction marks the end of a lengthy investigation and prosecution process that traced years of financial manipulation and unauthorised transactions.
Court hands down sentence
Following her conviction, the court sentenced Bronkhorst to 15 years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years. She also received an additional five-year prison sentence, which was wholly suspended for five years.
The court further declared her unfit to possess a firearm.
The Hawks said the outcome sends a strong message about accountability for financial crimes and the abuse of positions of trust within companies.
The case stands as another example of the devastating impact that white-collar crime can have on businesses, employees and communities, particularly when those entrusted with managing finances turn their access into an opportunity for personal gain.
