Philisiwe warns others to watch what they sign after conmen leave her R30 000 poorer

Teacher, Philisiwe Buthelezi, is R30 000 poorer after she was tricked into signing a document giving a company the right to deduct R500 from her monthly salary.
Ms Buthelezi, who was previously teaching at Gangeyane Primary School in the Wasbank area of Emahlaba, told the Courier that it was in 2009 when two men, claiming to be representing Home Choice in East London, arrived at her school to tell her that she was owing R30 000 for bedroom items she had bought from the company.
“I told them that I did not know anything about it but they were trying to force me to sign (the document). After I refused to sign, they left but came back after an hour. I was requested to sign a paper proving that I did not know anything. I signed in the hope that it was a report stating that I have no knowledge of the account,” said Mrs Buthelezi who lives in Newcastle.
However, the following month she discovered that R500 had been deducted from her pay slip.

“Whoever did this, go back to God and repent because one day you will pay for what you have done

She said she contacted the higher education authorities for help but no one could help her because it was not clear as to how the deductions were made from her salary. She thinks they got hold of her payslip at her previous school before she left for Gangeyane Primary.
“I only knew about East London because one of my colleagues from my previous school used to live there and that makes me suspicious,” said Mrs Buthelezi, a single mother of three. She said there is still an outstanding balance of R9 000, which she still has to pay.
“Whoever did this, go back to God and repent because one day you will pay for what you have done. But anyway, I am forgiving you,” she added. Mrs Buthelezi said she wants to warn people to be cautious when signing documents and not to take things for granted. Anyone who wants to assist Mrs Buthelezi may contact the Courier.