Police in Manzini are investigating a theft case after E60 000 was allegedly stolen from a woman’s bank account through a series of unauthorised withdrawals.
According to sources, a 43-year-old woman from Madonsa reported that between January 10 and 14, money was gradually deducted from her Standard Bank account.
The complainant later discovered that a total of E60 000 had been withdrawn by an unknown person.
Sources close to the investigation said the money was withdrawn at different intervals and in varying amounts from locations within Manzini.
Preliminary investigations have raised suspicions that someone close to the victim may have gained access to her bank card and personal identification number (PIN), enabling the unauthorised transactions.
Police have opened a case of theft, and investigations are ongoing.
The incident comes amid renewed public concern over banking-related crimes, following reports of a Standard Bank employee who was reported to the police for allegedly stealing more than E453 000 from clients’ accounts.
The bank employee, who was based at the Manzini branch, is alleged to have been responsible for the disappearance of E453 673 from various suspense and customer accounts between June 2020 and December 2025.
The funds were allegedly misappropriated while the employee was on duty at the branch.
Suspense accounts are temporary internal bank accounts used to hold funds when a transaction cannot be immediately completed or properly allocated.
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This may occur due to missing information, system errors, or discrepancies that require further investigation before the money can be posted to the correct account.
Unlike regular customer accounts such as savings, cheque, or current accounts, suspense accounts are not intended for long-term storage of funds or routine customer transactions.
They are strictly administrative in nature and are expected to be cleared once the underlying issue has been resolved.
Meanwhile, two businesspeople have lost a combined sum of E191 300 in separate cases of fraud and theft by false pretences currently under police investigation.
One case was reported to the police in Big Bend where a fraud case of E150 000 was reported on January 14.
The police said a 47-year-old businessman from Mafutseni was allegedly defrauded E150 000 following a business partnership that reportedly went sour.
The offence is said to have occurred in the St Philips area under the Lubombo region.
Sources close to the matter said the businessman and his partner entered into the business deal in that the victim had a tractor and trailer, while the other partner was the one who managed to secure the job.
The business partnership was forged from August 2025 to January 2026.
Sources said the businessman’s tractor and trailer had been contracted to carry out work around Sithobelweni/St Philips area, and three payments were made for services rendered.
However, the money was allegedly deposited into the other partner’s account instead of the complainant’s business account.
This was despite the fact that, as part of their agreement, the tractor owner had provided the partner with his business banking details, expecting that all proceeds from their joint activities would be deposited into that account.
In all instances, the business partner allegedly claimed that no payments had been made.
This was until businesses closed for the festive season in December 2025.
When business resumed, sources said the tractor owner, after numerous failed efforts to meet with his partner, approached the employer to make enquiries about payment.
To his surprise, the businessman is said to have discovered that three payments had already been made by the employer, although not into his business account as he had expected.
Sources privy to details of the matter said the employer even went as far as producing bank statements as proof that money had been paid for the services rendered.
It was at this point that the businessman reportedly discovered that the money amounting to E150 000 had been paid into his partner’s personal bank account.
Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni confirmed that the matter was reported to the police.
She said the police had opened a fraud case and investigations are ongoing.
In a separate incident, police in Mbabane are also investigating a case of theft by false pretences involving a 52-year-old businesswoman of Maphungwane.
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She is said to have reported that she was defrauded of E41 300 on January 12.
According to sources, the businesswoman was allegedly promised a business partnership to supply stationery to various schools by an unknown person while she was in Manzini.
She later realised that the offer was fraudulent after parting with the money, as the promised partnership failed to materialise.
The police have cautioned members of the public to exercise extreme caution when entering into business partnerships, particularly when sharing banking details or making upfront payments based solely on verbal promises.
