EASTERN CAPE – Fikile Phofana (34) a former Mthatha Spargs Superspar Supermarket trainee supervisor was yesterday, 19 May 2021 sentenced by Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court to two years direct imprisonment for a charge of fraud alternatively theft.
Phofana was employed as a cashier in 2015 and got promoted to be a trainee supervisor in January 2016 where one of his duties was to void transactions. Between January and June 2016, the store managers realised that there was a shortage of medicine from the veterinary department and the profit was not corresponding with the stock. The managers did stocktaking and in video footage, Phofana was seen taking money into his wallet. His conduct prejudiced the supermarket cash of R46 000.
The complaint was lodged with the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team to probe the matter. On hearing about the pending investigations, Phofana disappeared. The investigations culminated in his arrest on 9 September 2020 and he was released on warning after a court appearance.
Phofana made a series of court appearances before he was convicted on 18 May 2021 and was sentenced yesterday, 19 May 2021 to three years imprisonment of which one year is suspended to five years provided he does not commit theft during the suspension period.
