Three men appeared in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court, South Africa on Monday 16 March 2026 on 48 fraud charges linked to an alleged R11.9-million dairy scam.
Vivian David Sass (66), Aladin Freddie Sass (41) and Cheslin Peter Sass (40) were arrested by the Hawks and released on R15,000 bail each.
They are accused of selling dairy products, failing to deliver stock and not paying proceeds to Coega Dairy. The case was postponed to 30 March.
The arrest of Vivian David Sass (66), Aladin Freddie Sass (41), and Cheslin Peter Sass (40) on Monday, March 16, 2026, marks a significant breakthrough in a multi-year investigation into a major dairy distribution fraud.
The trio appeared in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court shortly after their arrest by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team.
The case stems from a 2018 distribution agreement between Coega Dairy and a company called Universal Holdings, where the accused served in management capacities.
The Scheme: Universal Holdings was authorized to distribute Coega Dairy products to retailers and commercial clients across Gqeberha, KuGompo City (East London), and Cape Town. However, the Hawks allege that the suspects systematically billed customers and pocketed payments for consignments that were never delivered.
The Financial Impact: The investigation revealed that the scam resulted in a loss of over R11.9 million for Coega Dairy.
The Deception: To hide the irregularities, the suspects allegedly made misrepresentations regarding stock levels held at their warehouses and were unable to produce valid “proof of delivery” documentation when Coega Dairy launched an internal inquiry following customer complaints.
The three men face 48 counts of commercial fraud.
During their initial court appearance they were granted bail of R15,000 each.
The matter has been postponed to 30 March 2026, for further investigation and to allow for the formal disclosure of the case docket.
This case is particularly notable in the Eastern Cape’s business sector, as Coega Dairy is a major local employer and a key player in the regional agricultural economy.
Dairy Group, strategically located in the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ), was founded in 2010 by 13 Eastern Cape dairy farmers who established what was then Coega Dairy. This farmer-driven model disrupted the traditional supply chain, giving producers ownership and control over the value chain, a radical departure from the status quo.
By 2012, Dairy Group was in full production, specialising in ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk, a long-life product critical for South Africa’s food security. Its eco-friendly technology and energy-efficient infrastructure set new benchmarks for sustainability in the dairy sector. Importantly, the plant’s inclusive approach ensured that developing farms contributed up to 25% of its milk supply, creating real opportunities for emerging farmers and rural communities.
According to Google, Universal Holdings is ‘Permanently Closed’.
