‘Scammer’ cashes in on Bronkhorstspruit’s missing child

A man believed to be a scammer has allegedly taken advantage of the disappearance of a five-year-old autistic child in Bronkhorstspruit.

Lesley Malibongwe went missing more than a week ago, in Zithobeni extension 3. Since then, members of the community have been searching desperately for the child with their efforts bearing no fruit.

During the search, a man allegedly pretending to be a traditional healer claimed he knew where the child was and would be able to point out the location.

“The man demanded money upfront before he could point out where the child was. He demanded R15 000,” said community leader Kgaugelo Phiri.

Desperate to find Lesley, members of the community raised funds knocking from door-to-door.

Phiri said the man was given R12 000.

“The man arrived around 10am on Saturday morning. Between 10am and 6pm when I arrived, the man had still not done anything.

“We still did not know where the child was and if anything, he had cast aspersions on a certain family from a house he had pointed out.

“This guy was a scammer.”

The community leader said the man had “conspiracy theories” and no progress was made in finding the child.

He also said he confronted the man “but he beat about the bush and started playing the victim”.

After Phiri briefly moved away from the man, he heard that the alleged charlatan had slipped away unnoticed with the money.

“We have opened a case with the police and we would like to urge members of the community who come across such people, not to give them any money,” he said.

“What is important to us, is for Lesley to be found.

“His mother is said not to be doing well and is suffering from a heart condition. All we are trying to do is find the child.”

Phiri said this was the first time a child had gone missing and unfound for so long in Zithobeni.

He said several attempts by the K9 unit to find the child had failed.

“Anyone with information must please take it to the police so we can help find the boy.”

Lesley was last seen wearing a grey Batman top with blue and green tracksuit pants. The child cannot speak, but can only hear.