South Africa:Petrol attendant arrested by Hawks for cloning fuel cards

In Mpumalanga, a 34-year-old gas station attendant has been detained on suspicion of stealing close to R500,000 from unwary drivers by cloning fuel cards.

The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime inquiry team in Middelburg, a Truckstop Inn gas station, and two banks’ card fraud investigators collaborated on the inquiry that led to the arrest.

Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, a spokesman for the Hawks, claims that the suspect is accused of copying fuel cards used by to make payments at the gas station. According to the financial institutions’ investigations, cardholders lost an estimated R469,000.

The Hawks were alerted to the suspected criminal activity and operationalised the information. Officers swooped on the fuel station on Friday, 12 December 2025, where the identified petrol attendant was searched.

A card-cloning device was allegedly found in his possession, leading to his immediate arrest.

The suspect is expected to appear before the Balfour Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 15 December 2025.

Mpumalanga Hawks provincial head, Major General Nico Gerber, commended the collaboration between the financial institutions, the fuel station and law enforcement.

“Our investigation is still in its infancy phase, and we believe that as it continues, more information will be uncovered. There is also a possibility that more people may be linked to the illegal activities,” Gerber said.

“This is a testament to the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in addressing crime.”