Fraud and theft case postponed

By Staff Reporter

FICKSBURG – Hennie Alfred Jacobs (54) who faces charges of fraud and theft is expected to be back in Ficksburg Regional Court on the 27 June 2023.

His case was postponed on Tuesday May 16 2023 by Ficksburg magistrate.

According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti,it is alleged that during 2006, nine other members of the same family registered a trust named Jacobs Trust. At the time, the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development was running a land redistribution and reform program, targeting previously disadvantaged communities.

“Jacobs and other eight members of the family trust allegedly contributed a total amount of R1 269 290‬. This contribution was made up of livestock, farm implements and human resources to work at Farm Fortuin 70 in Ladybrand.”

She said all these trust members were made to sign a declaration form, indicating their contribution. The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development then allocated a grant of R560 307 to the trust, in order for the trust to start with farming activities.

“During 2007, Jacobs gave documents to other members of the trust to sign without any explanation, excluding his mother and his wife. These documents turned out to be resignation letters from the trust. Jacobs allegedly defrauded the family members and the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development in order to benefit from the farm together with his wife.”

The matter was reported to the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation based in Bloemfontein for further investigation.