Manager jailed after stealing R2m from firm

A FORMER manager at a Gauteng food manufacturing company has been sentenced to an effective four years' imprisonment after defrauding his employer of more than R2 million through a long-running invoice scam.

- JONISAYI MAROMO

Confirming the outcome, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said Jans Daniel Naude, 44, was sentenced by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court to seven years' imprisonment, with three years suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of fraud or theft during the period of suspension. The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm.

Naude, a former technical and production manufacturing facilities manager at Fanatics Trading (Pty) Ltd, was convicted on 23 counts of fraud involving more than R2m.

He was employed at the company from 2014 until February 2024. Fanatics Trading operates in the food manufacturing sector and is involved in meat and poultry processing.