R6.3 million Security Scam: Global Strike employees busted for defrauding Anglo American Platinum

Three Global Strike Security Company employees have been arrested for allegedly defrauding Anglo American Platinum of R6.3 million.

Former Director Wanda van Zyl, 57, and two payroll administrators, Monidue Nel, 52, and Ruan van Zyl, 23, were nabbed by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (known as the Hawks). 

The trio who were arrested on Monday, May 19, 2025, are accused of submitting fraudulent invoices between December 20, 2018, and September 20, 2021.

Explaining the case, Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa said the trio allegedly submitted fraudulent invoices and claimed funds to Anglo-American Platinum for security services that were not rendered.

Anglo American Platinum reportedly grew suspicious and launched an internal forensic investigation.

The investigation uncovered more than 33 fraudulent claims that had already been paid.

”As a result, Anglo-American Platinum suffered a loss of over R6.3 million,” Mmuroa said.

The matter was reported to the Mahwelereng police station and later transferred to the Hawks for further investigation.

Mmuroa confirmed that four individuals from Global Strike Security were linked to the scheme, three of whom have now been arrested, while the fourth has since died.

The case was referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which authorised warrants of arrest.

The suspects reportedly cooperated and handed themselves over to the Hawks.

The trio appeared briefly in the Mahwelereng Magistrate’s Court on May 19, facing 26 counts of fraud. 

The matter was postponed to May 20, 2025, for a formal bail application.

In a separate story, IOL News previously reported that the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Polokwane has sentenced Serage Martin Lubenga (28) and Rhoda Mirembe (33) to 15 years in prison each for defrauding a Limpopo woman of R650,000 in a dating scam

Lubenga befriended the 39-year-old victim in 2023, later introducing her to Mirembe, who posed as a prophet named "Alice." 

Mirembe convinced the woman that she would receive R4 million if she paid 10% upfront. 

The victim handed over R650,000 and provided personal documents under the pretense of prayers for financial promotion.

The Hawks arrested the pair in Potchefstroom after uncovering the scam. 

They found that the victim’s details had been used to rent luxury properties, and four high-end vehicles, including a Range Rover and BMW X6, were seized.

Lubenga and Mirembe pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and one of corruption. 

The court sentenced them to 10 years for the first fraud charge, five for the second, and five for corruption, with the first two sentences running concurrently. 

They will serve an effective 15 years and are now also barred from owning firearms.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL News