Former Premier Soccer League(PSL) general manager and former Federation Internationale de Football Association(FIFA) boasts 211 members, rivaling that of the FIFA referee Andile ‘Ace’ Ncobo and his wife Salomie, appeared in court in Bellville on Monday, 05 May 2025 on three counts of fraud and money laundering .
The National Prosecuting Authority(NPA) said this related to a R15 million donation for school construction projects in the Eastern Cape dating back to 2008.
NPA regional spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said the state alleges that Ncobo and his wife embarked on a scheme to obtain monies from PetroSA, “In a fraudulent manner in favour of themselves, their family members, and/or entities in which they had a vested interest.”
He said PetroSA ran a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, which was responsible for administering and granting monetary donations to needy and disadvantaged schools, institutions or disaster management programmes.
Ntabazalila said in 2008, Gangatha Junior Secondary School in Dutywa, applied for a donation to build new infrastructure including classrooms with equipment and PetroSA entered into an agreement 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 completed in September 2009. The school never authorised him to act as its representative or appointed him as a project manager to oversee and manage the construction,” said Ntabazalila.
In addition he said PetroSA appointed quantity surveyors to assess the value of the services rendered when allegations of irregularities and fraud within the CSI department surfaced.
“The inspection revealed that products used, and the services rendered were of inferior quality and did not correspond with the amount of the donations made.The costs amounted to R5.9m inclusive of 14% Value Added Tax (Vat). It was established that it would cost PetroSA a further R398 363 inclusive of 14% Vat to remedy the defects,” NPA regional spokesperson added.
Ntabazalila said the State further alleges that Ncobo made several misrepresentations to PetroSA when the King’s Gangatha Building Trust and other supporting documentation were submitted to their offices to substantiate the application and approval for the donation.
A second school project also in 2008, in which Ngcobo’s wife was the ‘contact person‘ also came under scrutiny prompting PetroSA to lodge an internal investigation after discovering that their investment at the various schools and/or entities where the accused were involved did not yield the intended results.
“After a short bail application, he was granted bail of R50 000 and she was granted bail of R30 000. Their case was postponed until 29 May 2025 for further investigation,” Ntabazalila said.
Photograph: supplied
