Elderly woman from Umthambeka conned out of pension grant

A 73-year-old resident of Umthambeka Section was robbed of her pension money by three unknown men on February 6.

According to Tembisa SAPS communication officer, Captain Manyadza Ralidzivha, the victim alleged that she went to get her pension grant at the Tembisa Sassa office.

“After getting her pension money she intended to go and buy some items at Thembi Mall,” said Ralidzivha. “When she arrived at the mall, an unknown man smeared her with a concoction on her right hand. While she was still surprised, she was approached by another unknown man. The man had told her that there are police who parked in the mall. He convinced her to go with him to the police. She found other three men in the vehicle. They called her by her name. One of them even told her her date of birth.”

The men asked her how much she had received from Sassa.

“She told them. The victim was then told to give the money to them,” Ralidzivha continued. “She was asked if she still had some money at her house. They went to her house at Umthambeka where she handed them more money. She was then forced to get into the vehicle and they drove off with her. She was dropped at Enhlanzeni next to a funeral parlour.”

The police are appealing to members of the community, especially elderly citizens, not to believe people who tell them their money will disappear unless they perform certain rituals.

“There is no such a thing,” said Ralidzivha. “They only want to rob you. Family are encouraged to accompany elderly people when they are going to collect their pension grant to avoid this type of criminal element. Anyone who may have seen these people who dropped the elderly woman at the funeral parlour is urged to come forward with information that will help us nab the suspects.”

A case of theft under false pretences was registered at the Tembisa SAPS.