Crime

‘Desperate’ domestic worker accused of using job as front to steal

A domestic worker faces several charges of theft after allegedly stealing household goods amounting to thousands of rands from several Middelburg residents.

Shaun and Cindy Jardin says that a woman, introducing herself as Emma, pleaded for a job from them. Mr Jardin says that she looked very desperate and he decided to give her a chance.

She worked for two days, a Thursday and Friday, but failed to return to work after the weekend. During the weekend, the Jardin couple realised that some of their belongings are missing. They also discovered dirty clothing, which was supposed to be washed, stuffed under beds and into cupboards.

Mrs Jardin took to Facebook to warn fellow residents about Emma after it became apparent that she used the job opportunity as a ploy to gain access to their house and their belongings.

She was contacted by a woman who suspected that she appointed the same woman to start work at her house on the Wednesday. The Jardin couple, with the police in tow, went to the woman’s house where Emma was arrested. Several other people also reacted to the Facebook post, claiming that they fell prey to the same woman.

Middelburg police spokesperson, capt. Khanyisile Zwane, said that Emma’s real name is Johanna Ngwenya (56). She was out on parole for theft at the time of her arrest and according to Correctional Services, her parole term was supposed to end this month.

Ngwenya has already appeared in court on charges of theft. She will remain in custody until her formal bail application this week.

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Jana Boshoff

Jana works as a senior support specialist for Caxton digital. Before that she was a journalist at the Middelburg Observer 15 years where she won numerous awards including Sanlam's Up and Coming Journalist, Caxton Multimedia Journalist of the Year, and several investigative awards. She is passionate about people and the stories untold.
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