Former Northern Cape senior cop convicted of defrauding SAPS of more than R1.2 million - IOL

Ex-SAPS financial-services head convicted over R1.2m fraud and money laundering.

A former Northern Cape senior police officer has been found guilty of 80 counts of fraud and 80 counts of money laundering after admitting to defrauding the South African Police Service (SAPS) of more than R1.2 million.

Lieutenant Colonel Pieter Andries Nel appeared in the Upington Serious Commercial Crimes Court, where he pleaded guilty to all 160 charges.

Nel was serving as the Head of Financial Services at the SAPS ZF Mgcawu District in Upington.

His responsibilities included authorising payments to service providers, as well as subsistence and travel claims for police members in the district.

According to the Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe, Nel abused his position between 2022 and 2024 by creating and authorising fraudulent payments that were paid into his personal bank account.

Thebe said the fraudulent transactions amounted to more than R1.2 million.

Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation members arrested Nel at his Upington residence on May 28, 2025, after executing a J50 warrant of arrest.

Thebe said he had already been discharged from the SAPS in September 2024 following a disciplinary process.

As part of the disciplinary proceedings, SAPS recovered the R1.2 from Nel's pension as repayment.

Northern Cape Hawks Provincial Head Major General Stephen Mabuela congratulated the investigating and prosecuting teams following Nel's conviction.

Mabuela also urged police members to make use of the SAPS Employees Health and Wellness (EHW) services when they experience pressure.

“Our members are encouraged to use the services of our Employees Health and Wellness (EHW) whenever they feel the pressure. Our work comes with pressures from all sides. Having said that, we expect our members’ integrity to be beyond reproach,” Mabuela said.

Nel's case was postponed to 2 December 2026 for sentencing.