A 36-year-old Eastern Cape estate administrator has been convicted after pleading guilty to 14 counts of theft involving nearly R6 million stolen from deceased estates she had been entrusted to administer.
Annene Krouwkam-Claasen was found guilty in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court sitting in Gqeberha on Friday after admitting to siphoning funds from the estates of deceased clients between March 2021 and December 2023.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Krouwkam-Claasen operated as a trust and estate administrator through her own firm, where she acted as an appointed agent, executor and trustee for several deceased estates.
NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said that instead of safeguarding the funds entrusted to her, she unlawfully transferred nearly R6 million from the bank accounts of 14 deceased estates into her personal bank account and that of Ancoris Fiduciary Services (Pty) Ltd, a company of which she was the sole director.
“The stolen funds were transferred into her personal bank account and the account of Ancoris Fiduciary Services (Pty) Ltd, a company of which she was the sole director,” Tyali said.
He added that investigations established the money was used for her personal benefit.
“The State proved that the funds were used for her personal benefit, in blatant breach of the fiduciary duties she owed to grieving families and vulnerable beneficiaries.”
Tyali further said her conduct violated the reporting obligations contained in the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965, which governs the administration of deceased estates in South Africa.
The conviction has been welcomed by the Eastern Cape Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Samkelo Mtwana, who described the offences as a serious abuse of trust.
“This is a betrayal of the highest order. Executors are entrusted with carrying out the final wishes of the deceased and safeguarding the interests of beneficiaries. Instead, the accused exploited her position of trust for personal enrichment,” Mtwana said.
He added that the outcome should serve as a warning to others who abuse positions of responsibility.
“This conviction sends a strong message that the NPA, working closely with the SAPS Commercial Crimes Unit, will act decisively against those who abuse positions of responsibility for personal gain. We remain committed to protecting the integrity of estate administration and ensuring justice for victims and their families,” Mtwana said.
The matter has been postponed to 20 October 2026 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report before sentencing.
