MIDDELBURG, MPUMALANGA – A 32-year-old petrol attendant, a citizen of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland), is set to appear today before the Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court. He faces charges of contravening South Africa’s Cybercrime Act 19 of 2020.
The arrest took place on Monday, March 4, 2024, at Ultra City N4 Middelburg. It was carried out by the Hawks Middelburg-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit.
The arrest stemmed from an internal audit by ABSA and FNB bank card investigators, who suspected the use of a skimming device among petrol attendants at a local garage. This information was passed on to the Hawks, prompting a search and seizure operation in collaboration with bank investigators.
Authorities discovered the skimming device in the possession of the suspect while he was on duty. He was immediately arrested and detained ahead of his court appearance. The case has been transferred to the Middelburg Serious Commercial Crime unit for further investigation.
The estimated financial loss caused by the alleged skimming operation is approximately R400,000. However, authorities are still determining the exact amount as the investigation continues.
