Ex-employee found guilty for defrauding AfriForum over R1m

Former AfriForum employee, Pieter Hendrik Myburg, who swindled his former employer of R1 million for a period of three years unnoticed, has been found guilty for fraud and defeating the ends of justice by the Bloemfontein Regional Court.

The Regional Court handed down judgement yesterday, June 14, where he was convicted for the underpinned charges.

Free State Hawks spokesperson Christopher Singo said, the Hawks initiated the arrest of the accused in 2018, after the matter was reported to its serious commercial crime investigation unit, stationed at the province’s capital city.

“The incident took place during the period of January 2016 until January 2018.

“The matter was reported to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team for further investigation,” Singo said.

The accused was employed at Afriforum at the time of incident as Regional Co-ordinator Free State responsible for managing the Afriforum offices in Bloemfontein.

A preliminary investigation was then conducted by the complainant after, he received information that Myburg may be involved in the alleged theft.

“The outcome of the internal investigation revealed that Myburg was involved in fraudulent activities where he submitted various fraudulent quotations to head office for payments of purchasing the cameras which were never bought.

“Some of this cameras that he submitted quotations were not reported as stolen. The payment from head office would then be used for personal gain.

Myburg was served with summons on 25 January 2022. He appeared in court on several occasions culminating in his recent conviction,” detailed Singo.

As a result of the fraudulent activities Afriforum was prejudiced and suffered a total loss of more than R1 million.

The court sentenced Myburg to eight years imprisonment wholly suspended for five years and correctional supervision of thirty six (36) months.

The accused was also ordered to repay the complainant an amount of R720 000 on a monthly instalment of R12 000 per month for a period of five year.