Andile Ncobo and wife charged with R15m fraud

THE general manager of the Premier Soccer League and his wife appeared in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on fraud and money laundering charges yesterday.

- ROBIN-LEE FRANCKE

Andile “Ace” Ncobo, a former international referee, and his wife, Salome, 47, appeared on charges relating to a R15 million donation for school construction projects in the Eastern Cape.

The duo made a brief appearance and appeared elegantly dressed in the dock as they were formally charged. The State alleges that Ncobo and his wife embarked on a scheme to obtain monies from Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa SOC Limited (PetroSA) in a fraudulent manner in favour of themselves, their family members, and/or entities in which they had a vested interest.

PetroSA ran a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, which was responsible for administering and granting of monetary donations to needy and disadvantaged schools, institutions, or disaster management programmes.

The programme focused on education, health, community enhancement and/or environment.