Job seekers conned of thousands
Would-be prison wardens have been scammed into paying as much as R4 000 each to secure an interview with "Capt Bongani Khumalo" of the Mbombela Correctional Services.
MALALANE – This after “the captain” sent various SMS messages to local Democratic Alliance councillor, Mrs Mariette Preddy, requesting her to urgently assist in finding suitable candidates for current open positions within correctional services. Preddy had previously assisted in finding work for formerly disadvantaged people and thought that this was a perfect opportunity to do so once again.
She visited Corridor Gazette’s offices with one of the hopefuls, (who preferred not to be identified), who realised that when he was contacted to pay for an interview, it could possibly be a scam.
He showed Corridor Gazette the SMS conversations between himself and the “captain.”
It was however, too late for five other hopefuls who paid thousands in the hope of securing a livelihood. These people obtained loans from loan sharks in order to pay these costs.
Both Preddy and the young man who visited the newspaper offices, had proof on their cell hones of all the conversations with the “captain”.
The names and details of possible candidates were given to “Capt Khumalo” by Preddy via SMS as he said that he was at a funeral and could not talk, but that it was an urgent matter.
Details of two different bank accounts, one with Nedbank in the name of Ms B R Sigasa, account number 1074109945 and the other with Absa, into which the funds should be paid, were provided.
A request for shoe and clothes sizes were sent to the “candidates” with instructions on how to go about answering questions should they arrive at Mbombela Correctional Services. The date for the training to commence was given as June 14. The captain also said that he would employ them even without an interview as soon as they had deposited the money.
Preddy got wind of the scam in the meantime. The five victims who had deposited money contacted Preddy after they had allegedly gone to Mbombela Police Station to report the matter, but were harassed and threatened that – should they open a case – they would be immediately arrested.
When Corridor Gazette spoke to Const Tsepho Thulare at Mbombela Correctional Services, he denied that anyone by the name of Capt Bongani Khumalo worked there.
Corridor Gazette phoned the station commander, Brig Bheki Thabethe who was not available at the time, but spoke to his secretary, Mr Nkosinathi Dludlu. He was not aware of the matter, but advised the complainants to contact him in order to find the police officers who did not want to open cases of fraud against “Khumalo” and he threatened to take them into custody for paying bribes. He undertook to assist in this matter.
