AFU recovers R11 million for Foschini after senior accountant scammed over R22 million via WhatsApp

The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in the Western Cape has secured a forfeiture order of R11 million after a senior accountant at the Foschini Retail Group (TFG) was duped into authorising payments totalling more than R22 million to fraudulent bank accounts.

The forfeiture order was granted by the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday following an elaborate impersonation scam carried out in February 2025.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said a senior treasury accountant in TFG’s Finance and advisory department, Johanna Rademan, received a WhatsApp message from an individual posing as TFG Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Ralph Buddle.

Rademan, lacking Buddle's contact details, believed the message was genuine due to the WhatsApp profile displaying his photograph.

"The WhatsApp message advised Rademan that, following a board meeting, there were several key points that would impact TFG’s operations. The message further informed Rademan that she will have to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) so that Buddle can provide her with all the relevant details.

"On the same day, Rademan received a WhatsApp call from a person who introduced himself as Gerald du Plessis, a lawyer who assisted Buddle with the proposed acquisition. Du Plessis emailed the NDA to Rademan, and she signed it. Du Plessis called Rademan again and discussed the process to follow regarding tranche payments that are required to be made, and that the instruction will come from the CFO, Buddle," explained Ntabazalila.

Ntabazalila said Rademan was subsequently told that tranche payments would need to be processed urgently and that formal instructions would follow from the CFO.

"She later received WhatsApp and email instructions purportedly from Buddle to make two urgent payments to ICUBED Distribution (Pty) Ltd, into two separate bank accounts, in the amounts of R11.785 million and R11 million."

Acting on the instruction, Rademan emailed Je-Anne Wagner, who is responsible for loading online banking payments, to execute the transactions.

However, later that evening Rademan grew suspicious after checking the phone numbers used to contact her on Truecaller, as they did not correspond with the names provided.

She alerted the group financial controller, who confirmed the matter was likely fraudulent, noting that Buddle would not normally issue instructions via WhatsApp.

TFG executives immediately contacted the company’s relationship managers at the two banks involved.

"Both banks placed temporary holds on the accounts. Subsequent investigations confirmed that Buddle had no knowledge of ICUBED Distribution and had not authorised any payments. His cellphone number also differed from the one used by the fraudsters," said Ntabazilila.

One of the banks succeeded in reversing and returning R11.785 million to TFG, however, the remaining R11 million was preserved following a court order obtained by Advocate Nodada-Gantolo in August 2025.

That amount was formally forfeited to the State in February 2026, preventing the suspects from accessing the funds.

Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Nicolette Bell, praised the AFU for its persistence in tracing and recovering stolen funds. 

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

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