A 37-year-old father from Port Elizabeth who went missing earlier this month and who was later found alive in Jeffreys Bay appeared in the Commercial Crimes Court in the city on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to theft amounting to just over R1.4 million.
Morne Pretorius was employed by Supply Five Distribution (Pty) Ltd, as the manager and his duties included managing sales, marketing, invoicing and stock control.
Between January and December 2018, he stole stock belonging to the company which was valued at R1 479 521.
In his plea, Pretorius confessed that he started his own business named Ubuntu Supply.
He said he did not have the capital to start up his business, therefore, he stole and sold the Supply Five Distribution stock items to the public in an attempt to finance his business.
A spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority Anelisa Ngcakani says after the plea on Wednesday the general manager of Supply Five Distribution, Marlene Bradnick, testified in court on how the theft led to the retrenchment of local employees.
On the 17th of August Pretorius was reported missing by his wife.
He phoned his mother during the day and asked her to pick up his son at daycare and also later asked his mom to pick up his wife from work, as he was running late.
Janse van Rensburg says his wife found this to be suspicious and became more concerned when her husband's phone was off.
His vehicle was found abandoned at Maitlands.
A massive search was launched for Pretorius who was found unharmed in Jeffreys Bay two days later.
He told police that he had personal problems and needed some time away.
Pretorius will be sentenced in the Commercial Crimes Court on the 5th of November.
