NDPP secures R46,120 forfeiture from taxi owner

THE National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) has successfully appealed a Durban High Court decision at the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) to forfeit R46,120 seized from taxi owner Sithembiso Gcaba, a member of the well-known Gcaba family.

- NOMONDE ZONDI

The seizure occurred after police observed Gcaba engaged in suspicious and unlawful activity near an ATM at a petrol service station in March 2021. Upon searching him, officers discovered 69 orange Social Security Agency (SASSA) cards, along with a black bag containing additional SASSA cards and R7,640 in cash.

An additional R39,800 was recovered from his vehicle. In total, the police seized R46,120.

Gcaba’s failure to provide a satisfactory explanation for the cards and money resulted in his arrest and a subsequent charge of 69 counts of fraud. He was later released on R5,000 bail. Police investigations revealed that the cards originated in Bloemfontein and were destined for various SASSA offices in KwaZulu-Natal.

Furthermore, it was established that R118,000 had been withdrawn from ATMs in the eThekwini region over a five-hour period using 62 of the 69 cards found in his possession.