Andile 'Ace' Ncobo and his wife Salome appeared in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on Monday.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
The General Manager of the Premier Soccer League and his wife appeared in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court in Cape Town on fraud and money laundering charges.
Andile ‘Ace’ Ncobo, a former international referee, and his wife, Salome, 47, the charges relate to a R15m donation for school construction projects in the Eastern Cape.
The duo made a brief appearance and appeared elegantly dressed in the dock as they were formally charged.
The State alleges that Ncobo and his wife embarked on a scheme to obtain monies from Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa SOC Limited (PetroSA) in a fraudulent manner in favour of themselves, their family members, and/or entities in which they had a vested interest.
PetroSA ran a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, which was responsible for administering and granting of monetary donations to needy and disadvantaged schools, institutions, or disaster management programmes. The programme focused on education, health, community enhancement and/or environment.
Andile Ncobo coming up into the courtroom from the holding cells.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
During 2008, Gangatha Junior Secondary School, Eastern Cape, applied for a donation to build new classrooms with equipment and furniture, an administration block with equipment and furniture, ablution facilities, a science laboratory with equipment and furniture, a computer laboratory with equipment and furniture, develop the sports field and erect a security fence.
PetroSA agreed to donate R13m to rebuild the school. A King’s Gangatha Building Trust, unregistered, was established to facilitate the funding and rebuilding of the school.
Ncobo oversaw and managed the construction, which started in November 2008 and was completed in September 2009. The school never authorised him to act as its representative or to be appointed as a project manager to oversee and manage the construction.
The court granted the couple bail.
Ace was granted R50,000 bail while his wife was granted R30,000 bail.
The matter has been an ongoing investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks) for over a decade.
The provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, said it is reported that the duo allegedly misrepresented PetroSA by claiming that Gangatha Junior Secondary School (JSS) required infrastructure.
“They submitted proposals supported by forged trust deeds and donor documentation, creating a false impression that Gangatha Projects, a non-registered entity, was a legitimate channel for school development. PetroSA, relying on these presentations, paid R13 million to Gangatha JSS. The trust deed associated with King’s Gangatha Building Trust was not registered, and the signatures were allegedly falsified,” Hani said.
She said the Gangatha Project bank account received approximately R13 million.
“The scheme was executed through the submission of falsified documents, creation of fictitious or unregistered entities, and subsequent laundering of the proceeds through a personal account,” Hani said.
Andile 'Ace' Ncobo and his wife Salome face charges of fraud and money laundering.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
The provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Eric Ntabazalila, explained the money laundering charges.
"The money laundering charge relates to R15.19 million being distributed to bank accounts of Gangatha Projects, Eseswe Projects, Aldrin Andile Baldwin Ncobo Charity Institute, Aldrin Andile Baldwin Development ILE PR. Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) records reveal that Gangatha Projects was not a registered entity. Ace Ncobo Development ILE Projects Close Corporation was registered, and the accused had a 100% interest in it. Eseswe Projects and Aldrin Andile Baldwin Ncobo Charity Institute were not registered entities," Ntabazalila said.
In a statement made on Facebook, Ncobo said he believed this was a malicious prosecution and they welcomed the decision by the National Prosecuting Authorities to carry out its constitutional duties without favour.
“We appreciate the overwhelming messages of support and wish to assure our family, friends, and the supportive public that their support is not misplaced. We have never been involved in any criminal conduct in all the projects our company did. All projects we were appointed to do were completed in record time and to the highest standards,” Ncobo said.
He further stated that the school in this matter was built almost two decades ago and said it still stood proudly as an asset to the community.
“We have full confidence in the justice system of our country, and we know that the court will judge for itself that this matter should never have been brought before it in the first place. We humbly request to be given space to deal with this matter without any further public or media engagements beyond this statement,” Ncobo said.
The matter has been postponed until May 29, 2025, for further investigation.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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