Free State plant manager arrested for extorting R50,000 from sub-contractor
The plant manager was extorting R10,000 at a time.
Image: File
A Free State plant manager accused of extorting money at his workplace in order to buy himself a car has been arrested.
A sting operation by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) on Monday resulted in the arrest of the 26-year-old plant manager at the Bloemhoedskraal Solar Plant in Virginia.
Provincial Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti said they received intel about extortion, which they acted upon.
"The suspect is alleged to have extorted monthly cash payments of R10,000 from a sub-contractor over four months, threatening to remove the contractor’s machinery if payments were not made, with a total amount of R50,000 involved.
The preliminary investigations by the project manager revealed additional victims who were subjected to similar extortion.
According to Matoti, it was also revealed that the suspect had recently bought himself a second-hand vehicle using R130,000 in cash.
“The matter was reported to Welkom SCI for further investigation, and an undercover operation in terms of Section 252A of the Criminal Procedure Act was authorised by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on January 30, 2026.
“During the arrest, two Samsung cellular phones and cash amounting to R10,000 were confiscated,” Matoti said.
He is due to appear in the Virginia Magistrate's Court in Free State, facing charges of corruption.
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