‘I was snubbed for promotion’: Manager jailed after explaining why he stole R2 million from Pretoria firm
Jans Daniel Naude has been sentenced to an effective four years’ imprisonment after being convicted of multiple fraud counts linked to the diversion of company funds into his personal bank account.
Image: File
A former manager at a Gauteng food manufacturing company has been sentenced to an effective four years’ imprisonment after defrauding his employer of more than R2 million through a long-running invoice scam.
Confirming the outcome, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said Jans Daniel Naude, 44, was sentenced by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court to seven years’ imprisonment, with three years suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of fraud or theft during the period of suspension. The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
Naude, a former technical and production manufacturing facilities manager at Fanatics Trading (Pty) Ltd, was convicted on 23 counts of fraud involving more than R2 million. He was employed at the company from 2014 until February 2024. Fanatics Trading operates in the food manufacturing sector and is involved in meat and poultry processing.
During his employment, Naude was responsible for ordering bulk stock from suppliers, including chicken products. Between August 12, 2016, and January 12, 2022, he created fraudulent invoices and delivery notes that appeared to originate from Federated Meats.
He then replaced the supplier’s legitimate banking details with those of his personal First National Bank account, resulting in payments exceeding R2 million being unlawfully diverted into his account.
The scheme was uncovered after senior management at Fanatics Trading identified irregular and excessive stock purchases. An independent audit was commissioned, and the matter was subsequently reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS). Naude was later summoned to appear in court.
In court, Naude pleaded guilty and admitted that he committed the offences after feeling aggrieved at being overlooked for a promotion. Through his legal representative, he asked for a non-custodial sentence, arguing that he was a first-time offender and the primary caregiver of his two minor children.
However, State Advocate Lerato Phoebe Labuschagne opposed a lenient sentence, highlighting the seriousness of the offences and the gross abuse of trust. She told the court that the financial harm suffered by the company was so severe that it was forced to borrow money to pay employees’ salaries, and urged the magistrate to impose a sentence that would send a strong deterrent message.
In sentencing, Magistrate Ignatius de Preez found that Naude had failed to show genuine remorse and had pleaded guilty only because the State had a strong case against him. The court further noted that Naude did not disclose what he had done with the stolen funds, and ruled that a custodial sentence was appropriate.
Welcoming the sentence, Mahanjana said it “affirms that those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain will be held accountable”.
She added that “the sentence serves as a clear warning that white-collar crime is not victimless and will be met with decisive prosecutorial action”.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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