A KwaZulu-Natal woman has been sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, with two years suspended, after being found guilty of stealing R500,000 from a businesswoman in a fraudulent business arrangement.
Rhana Naicker appeared before the Ngwelezane Regional Court this week, where she was convicted of theft linked to funds obtained under the guise of a business investment opportunity.
The court heard that in 2017, Naicker was working as a caretaker at the Caltex Alton fuel station, operated by KZN Oils. In that role, she had access to the purchase and sale of fuel and related stock.
Prosecutors said Naicker had accumulated a debt of approximately R457,000 to the company after purchasing fuel and goods while in her position. When her request to acquire a franchise stake was declined, she allegedly devised a scheme to settle the debt.
According to court testimony, Naicker approached a businesswoman in October 2017 and offered her a 50% share in the fuel station franchise for R500,000. She reportedly provided banking details belonging to KZN Oils and instructed the woman to use her name as a reference for the transaction.
After the payment was made, the complainant discovered that Naicker’s debt had been settled, but she was unable to contact her thereafter. The matter was subsequently reported to police.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha Kara said the court heard evidence from the complainant, KZN Oils employees, and the investigating officer, supported by documentary and banking records.
In a victim impact statement, the complainant said the financial loss severely affected her business operations, forcing her to cancel staff bonuses and salary increases, which in turn damaged morale and trust within the company.
Although Naicker faced charges of fraud, theft and money laundering, the court acquitted her on the fraud and money laundering counts, convicting her solely on theft.
During sentencing, the court took into account a previous fraud conviction dating back 30 years, as well as pending cases involving fraud, theft and money laundering in other magistrates’ courts.
The court ultimately imposed an effective eight-year direct prison term after suspending part of the sentence conditionally. The stolen funds have not been recovered.