| 2025/04/04 |
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Media Statement EASTERN CAPE – The East London Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation ensured that Thobani Mabizela (41) was convicted by the East London Regional court on 3 April 2025 for charges of fraud. Mabizela was arrested by the Hawks in October 2019, alongside with his accomplice, Zamile Nongongo (52), and they appeared in court on the same day. During the period between January 2018 and February 2019, Mabizela intentionally produced and supplied fraudulent bank statements as well as payslips to his clients. Thereafter, Mabizela would facilitate the process of documents submission to various banks and vehicle dealerships to attain vehicle finance loans. However, the banks approved those aforesaid loans and vehicles were officially handed over to their clients with no single instalments made. The banks discovered discrepancies in all the documents submitted by Mabizela and his acquaintances and the matter was reported to the Hawks for further probing. A meticulous investigation by the Hawks confirmed that Mabizela was the mastermind in a syndicate, and caused banks to be prejudiced cash of more than R4.6 million. Further investigation by the Hawks led to Mabizela being nabbed in October 2019 and was remanded in custody ever since his arrest. Mabizela made numerous court appearances in an attempt to be granted bail, but all in vain. The case against Nongongo is still on trial and is also remanded in custody ever since arrest. Mabizela was successfully convicted by the East London Regional court on 3 April 2025 and the matter was remanded to 30 June 2025 for sentencing. Ends
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