A former CEO pleads guilty to corruption

News South Africa

Tebogo Msimanga |

A Former Chief Executive Officer of Burma Plant Hire, Matthias Andriaan Burger (64) pleaded guilty on charges of corruption and money laundering at Kimberley Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 26 September 2022.

Burger was arrested in 2020 with two other accused, one of them is Anthony Meyer who pleaded guilty and was sentenced in July 2022 on the same charges.

Northern Cape Hawks Spokesperson Tebogo Thebe said during April 2016, a former employee of Sishen Iron Ore Company at Kolomela mine, Johan Breedt who was the production manager nominated Burma Plant Hire to load and haul the final Dense Medium Separation product to the plant production beds. Thereafter, the company was awarded a tender to work at Kolomela mine from July 2016 to July 2017.

“Between July 2016 and December 2016, Burma Plant Hire paid a total amount of R203 756.00 on the instruction of the accused into a bank account of former Burma Plant Hire employee, Anton Meyer who then paid the money to Johan Breedt who had to ensure that company continues to get work at the mine”.

Thebe said the accused through his unlawful activities, benefitted an amount of R140 000.00 in bonuses for ensuring that Burma Plant Hire continues to work at the mine. A thorough investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team led to the prosecution of the accused.

Burger was fined R80 000.00 or 5 years imprisonment for each count of corruption and money laundering. He was further ordered to pay R140 000.00 which he unduly benefitted through his unlawful activities.

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