The accused, Andre Rudolph Appelgryn (64) appeared before the Bredasdorp Magistrates’ Court today, 17 September 2021 where he faced charges of fraud. He was arrested earlier today by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team based in Cape Town. This comes after the team conducted a search and seizure yesterday at his candles company offices in Bredasdorp and confiscated documentation regarding TERS funds.

It is alleged that during the period between May and June 2020, Appelgryn claimed TERS funds from the Department of Labour on behalf of 44 employees who were working for him prior the Covid-19 pandemic and used the monies claimed to service his payroll. Subsequently, an amount of R345 970, 20 was paid into his business account. This resulted in a joint investigation between UIF and the police after they realised that the TERS monies were claimed unlawfully as the workers were working through lockdown and receiving their full salaries. They were not eligible for the TERS imbursement.

The matter was then reported to the Hawks for further investigation which resulted in the arrest of the accused. The accused was granted a R5 000-00 bail. The case was remanded to Thursday, 25 October 2021 for further investigation.

Source: South African Police Service