PSL GENERAL MANAGER AND FORMER FIFA REFEREE ACE NCOBO AND WIFE APPEAR IN COURT FOR FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING

PSL GENERAL MANAGER AND FORMER FIFA REFEREE ACE NCOBO AND WIFE APPEAR IN COURT FOR FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING

On Monday 05 May 2025, the PSL General Manager and former FIFA referee Aldrin Andile Baldwin Ncobo and his wife Salomie Twaise Ncobo appeared at Bellville Magistrates Court, facing three counts of fraud and money laundering relating to a R15m donation for school construction projects in the Eastern Cape.

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 focussed on education, health, community enhancement and/or environment. 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 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 as a project manager to oversee and manage the construction.

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.

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.

In another project, Nqadu Pre-Grade R School approached PetroSA for a donation to build a new pre-school during 2008. The application was finalised, and Ncobo’s wife was the contact person. PetroSA approved the request and paid R 485 450 into Great Kei bank account. Accused one informed the school principal that he was building the pre-school with his own money. He oversaw the construction, but no furniture or educational equipment was delivered to the school. The Board members appearing on the documentation submitted to PetroSA during the application for funding denied being Board members and disputed signatures purported to be theirs.

PetroSA lodged an internal investigation through their Risk and Compliance Department, after discovering that their investment at the various schools and/or entities where the accused were involved did not yield the intended results. The quantity surveyors established that it would cost a further PetroSA R20 093 inclusive of 14% Vat to remedy the defects at Nqadu Pre-Grade R School.

The money laundering charge relates to R15,19m 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 accused had a 100% interest in it. Eseswe Projects and Aldrin Andile Baldwin Ncobo Charity Institute were not registered entities.

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.


Issued by:

Eric Ntabazalila
National Prosecuting Authority
Regional Communications Manager – Western Cape
Tel: (021) 487 7308
Mobile: 073 062 1222