Hennie Alfred Jacobs (54) appeared before Ficksburg Magistrates’ Court Tuesday, 16 May 2023 on charges of fraud and theft.
It is alleged that during 2006, Jacobs and nine other members of the same family registered a trust named Jacobs Trust.
At the time, the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development was running a land redistribution and reform program, targeting previously disadvantaged communities.
Jacobs and allegedly the other eight members of the family trust contributed a total amount of R1 269 290.
This contribution was made up of livestock, farm implements and human resources to work at Farm Fortuin 70 in Ladybrand.
All these trust members were made to sign a declaration form, indicating their contribution. The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development then allocated a grant of R560 307 to the trust, in order for the trust to start with farming activities.
During 2007, Jacobs gave documents to other members of the trust to sign without any explanation, excluding his mother and his wife. These documents turned out to be resignation letters from the trust.
Jacobs allegedly defrauded the family members and the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development in order to benefit from the farm together with his wife.
The matter was reported to the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation based in Bloemfontein and further investigation were conducted.
Jacobs is expected to appear again at Ficksburg Regional Court on the 27 June 2023.
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