LIMPOPO – A 71-year-old woman from Itsani village near Thohoyandou, is urging pensioners to be extra cautious when withdrawing their social grants, as criminals are actively targeting them.

Regina Mukhere, a single mother of four, says she fell victim to a scam on Friday when she withdrew R1 000 from her old-age grant, intending to buy food for her family. Instead, she was left with nothing but worthless pieces of newspaper.

Mukhere recounted how, after withdrawing her money, she went to a paypoint to buy electricity when unknown individuals approached her. “Along the way, they smeared something on my left hand, which made me dizzy and confused,” she said.

The suspects then forced her into their vehicle, where one of them convinced her to open her purse, pretending to help neutralise the supposed muti. “They took my money and handed me a brown envelope, telling me not to open it until I was inside a store,” Mukhere added.

When she finally checked the envelope at the paypoint, she discovered it contained only newspaper cuttings. “I almost fainted. My left arm was injured when they dragged me into the car, and now my family has no food for the month.”

Mukhere is warning other elderly people to be cautious and avoid getting into vehicles with strangers. “If someone you don’t know offers to help, be careful – it could be a trap,” she advised.

Ntsieni Mbulungeni, the president of the Thohoyandou Business Forum (TBF), echoed the warning, urging especially pensioners not to carry large amounts of cash.

“Old-age grants are now paid via grant cards. It’s safer to use card payments instead of withdrawing cash,” he said.

Mbulungeni attributed the rise in such crimes to high unemployment rates and stressed the need for job creation in rural communities to help curb crime.

Police are investigating the incident, and pensioners are urged to remain vigilant, avoid carrying cash, and never share personal banking details with strangers.