Odendaalsrus – A South African Police Service (SAPS) multi-task team has arrested 10 suspects, including one woman, in connection with a fraud syndicate operating in Odendaalsrus in the Free State.
Police said the arrests followed the attempted fraudulent application for a bank loan of R250,000 using falsified documents at a local financial institution.
“It is reported that on Wednesday, 01 April 2026, police were alerted to a suspicious loan application at a financial institution in Odendaalsrus,” SAPS said.
The bank manager alerted authorities after the loan was provisionally approved pending security checks, during which irregularities were discovered in the submitted salary advice documents.
“It was, however, discovered that the salary advice submitted by the applicant was fraudulent,” police said.
When the 47-year-old female applicant returned to the bank, preliminary investigations confirmed that all three salary advices provided were fake.
“Further investigations revealed that the female was working with a syndicate alleged to be from the Gauteng Province and had already defrauded several other financial institutions,” SAPS added.
A coordinated operation involving the Odendaalsrus Visible Police Unit, Detective Branch, Welkom K9 Unit, and Lejweleputswa District Highway Patrol was launched, leading to the arrests.
Police said suspects were traced after officers identified two vehicles linked to the group, while others were found at a park nearby.
“Following a thorough observation, the two vehicles matching the description were spotted with the drivers inside both vehicles. The other suspects were spotted in the park and were subsequently apprehended by police,” SAPS said.
One suspect initially managed to flee but was later tracked down and arrested in Welkom.
Authorities also seized several bank cards and confiscated two vehicles believed to have been used in the scam, a silver Suzuki seven-seater and a white Toyota Tazz.
The suspects, aged between 23 and 49, are expected to appear in the Odendaalsrus Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 07 April 2026, facing fraud charges.
Free State Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thabang Solomon Lesia said tackling organised crime remains a priority.
“We will employ all uncompromised efforts to fight organised crime in the Province,” Lesia said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
