Cape Town – Fraud-accused high-profile couple, Premier Soccer League General Manager Aldrin Andile Baldwin Ncobo and his wife, Salomie Twaise Ncobo, have appeared before the Bellville Magistrate’s Court.
The former FIFA referee, better known as “Ace Ncobo,” and his wife face three counts of fraud and money laundering relating to a R15 million donation for school construction projects in the Eastern Cape.
The couple appeared in court on Monday, (5 May 2025).
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 that was responsible for administering and granting monetary donations to needy and disadvantaged schools, institutions, or disaster management programmes.
The CSI programme focused on education, health, community enhancement, and/or environment.
In 2008, Gangatha Junior Secondary School in the Eastern Cape applied for funding to build new classrooms, an administration block with equipment, ablution facilities, a fully equipped science laboratory, a computer laboratory, an upgraded sports field, furniture, and a security fence.
PetroSA agreed to donate R13 million to rebuild and equip the school 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 was completed in September 2009.
Allegations are that the school never authorised him to act as its representative or appointed as a project manager to oversee and manage the construction.
Western Cape National Prosecuting Authority Spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said when allegations of irregularities and fraud within the CSI department surfaced, PetroSA appointed quantity surveyors to assess the value of the services rendered.
“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,” said Nabazalila.
“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 preschool in 2008.
The application was finalised, and Ncobo’s wife was the contact person.
PetroSA approved the request and paid R485 450 into the Great Kei bank account.
Allegations are that Ncobo informed the school principal that he was building the preschool with his own money.
Ncobo allegedly 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,” revealed Ntabazalila.
PetroSA lodged an internal investigation through their Risk and Compliance Department, after discovering that their investment in 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 PetroSA a further R20 093, inclusive of 14% VAT, to remedy the defects at Nqadu Pre-Grade R School.
The money laundering charge relates to R15,19 million 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 the accused had a 100% interest in it.
Eseswe Projects and Aldrin Andile Baldwin Ncobo Charity Institute were not registered entities.
However, after a short bail application, Ncobo and his wife were granted bail of R50 000 and R30 000 respectively.
Their case was adjourned to 29 May 2025 for further investigation.
