A former Isuzu Motors employee has been convicted of defrauding the vehicle manufacturer of more than R10.5 million through a payroll manipulation scheme that allegedly exploited weaknesses in the company’s payment processes.
Natasja Slabbert, 42, was found guilty of fraud in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Gqeberha on Monday, 2 November 2026, following an investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit.
The case exposed how irregular payroll transactions and weaknesses in third-party payment systems were allegedly used to divert substantial amounts of company money into unauthorised channels.
Payroll discrepancies triggered fraud investigation
The fraud came to light at Isuzu Motors’ Struandale premises in Gqeberha after the company’s financial manager identified irregularities during a routine payroll reconciliation.
According to provincial Hawks spokesperson Captain Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, the concerns intensified in 2024 when several employees questioned discrepancies between their expected net salaries and the amounts reflected on their payslips.
A closer examination of the August 2024 payroll uncovered a suspicious transaction worth R626,500.
Investigators established that the money had been transferred from the company’s payroll bank account into Slabbert’s personal bank account.
At the time, Slabbert was responsible for administering the company’s payroll system, placing her in a position to access and process payroll-related information.
Forensic investigation exposes payroll manipulation
A subsequent forensic investigation uncovered what the Hawks described as a sophisticated scheme involving the manipulation of payroll records and the exploitation of weaknesses in Isuzu’s third-party payment processes.
Investigators found that inflated and duplicated amounts had been processed through a third-party payment service provider.
The transactions were allegedly presented as legitimate payroll deductions and contributions, concealing the diversion of company funds.
By disguising the payments as ordinary financial obligations, the scheme enabled money to be transferred without immediately attracting attention.
The findings prompted the company to refer the matter to the Hawks for a criminal investigation.
Isuzu Motors loses more than R10.5 million
The investigation established that Isuzu Motors suffered a total financial loss of R10,525,747.13 as a result of the fraud.
Slabbert was arrested in February 2026 and subsequently appeared in court, where she was released on R5,000 bail.
After several court appearances, the case reached a conviction on 2 November 2026.
Her conviction marks a significant development in the investigation into the financial misconduct, although the court is yet to determine the appropriate sentence.
Sentencing proceedings scheduled for December
The matter has been postponed to 7 December 2026 for pre-sentencing proceedings.
These proceedings will allow the court to consider relevant information before determining the appropriate punishment.
The case also highlights the financial and operational risks companies face when payroll controls and third-party payment systems are exploited.
For businesses, the incident demonstrates the importance of regular payroll reconciliations, independent financial oversight and effective verification procedures to identify suspicious transactions before losses escalate.
