MOSSEL BAY NEWS - PetroSA has warned members of the public about a person reportedly posing as one of its employees, contacting people regarding fabricated tenders under the company's name.
Responding to Mossel Bay Advertiser’s media enquiries to PetroSA, the oil and gas corporation said it was first informed about this scam on 7 April.
Some members of the public had alerted the company that a person allegedly posing as André Snell, a current employee of PetroSA, had been contacting business owners around the country and falsely stating that some tenders were available.
The alleged scammer would then request some vouchers in return for the tender work that the business would undertake.
PetroSA said the scammer’s communications came through on WhatsApp, and that this person supposedly uses a photo of another person not employed by PetroSA as their profile photo.
This person has allegedly procured vouchers in this manner from the victims, amounting to about R14 000. It is unclear, however, how many victims there are.
PetroSA opened a case with the KwaNonqaba Police on 9 April. The station’s spokesperson, Warrant Officer Kappie Kapp, said the investigation is ongoing.
PetroSA emphasised that all procurement and tender processes at the company are conducted strictly in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and applicable Treasury Regulations.
Legitimate tenders are formally advertised through official channels, and any compulsory briefing sessions are communicated transparently within the tender documentation.
“Participation in such briefings is never conditional on any form of payment, vouchers, or personal transfers. Under no circumstances will PetroSA officials request payments from prospective service providers to secure work, attend meetings or be considered for tender opportunities. Any such request should be treated as fraudulent and reported immediately,” said PetroSA.
Report any similar incidents to its head office on 021 929 3000.
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