The recent fraud case at Marlow Agricultural High School in Nxuba (formerly Cradock) is a significant story in the Eastern Cape, primarily because of how the alleged R646,965 scheme was uncovered: a simple typing error by a donor.
Here are the key details of the case as of March 2026:
The Accused and the Allegations
The central figure is Deon Gerber, a former marketing agent for the school who was employed between 2015 and 2022.
The Scheme: It is alleged that between 2017 and 2023, Gerber misled corporate and private sponsors by providing them with his personal Capitec bank account details instead of the official account for the Fish River Educational Trust, which manages Marlow’s finances.
The Total: The charge sheet lists 36 suspicious transactions totaling R646,965.
Major Victims: High-profile agricultural service providers were affected, including BKB (R182,750) and Cradock Seed (R131,000).
How the Fraud was Discovered
The scheme remained undetected for years and only came to light in May 2023, seven months after Gerber had already left the school.
A prominent Nxuba businessman intended to donate R12,750 to the school.
A “slip of the finger” caused him to type an extra “2,” accidentally transferring R122,750.
When the businessman approached the school to request a refund of the R110,000 overpayment, the school realized they had no record of the transaction—nor of the bank account the money had been sent to.
Current Legal Status (March 2026)
Court Appearance: Gerber appeared in the Nxuba Regional Court on Monday, March 2, 2026.
Postponement: The matter has been postponed until April 2026 for further consultation.
Department Stance: The Eastern Cape Department of Education has condemned the alleged fraud but noted that since Gerber was employed by the School Governing Body (SGB) and not the department directly, the school has handled the matter through the police and the regional court system.
Impact on the Community
The funds were originally intended for school equipment, sports events, and assisting financially needy students with boarding and tuition fees. The discovery has caused significant concern among the school’s donor base, which is vital for agricultural schools in the region.