ERMELO – A scammer who goes by the name of Doctor Mabaso, conned a resident into believing she was applying for a job at the Msukaligwa Municipality.

According to Ms Phindile Mhlanga, she had applied for a municipal vacancy last year, and was only too happy when someone from the municipality contacted her albeit a year after the fact.

Mabaso who alleged he was from the municipality notified her that she got the job though there were going to be certain employment conditions.

He told her that she would need medical cover, and because she did not complete her matric year, the municipality was not going to pay for it.

“He said I had to transfer R1 000 and to send the proof of payment to his cellphone after which he would take out the cover on my behalf.

“He told me after I had made the payment to go to the municipality to pick up my uniform,” Ms Mhlanga said.

She transfered the money and made her way to the municipality.

Ms Mhlanga said she called him to let him know she was there and he told her to wait outside.

“At about 16:30 he called me and told me to go home and to return the next day,” she said.

She returned the following day and called him again.

He gave her the same response, but this time added that she had to wait outside, because there were too many cameras inside the building.

She said that she then became suspicious and suspected it to be a scam.

After a long wait outside Ms Mhlanga made her way inside and asked a security officer whether she could see Mabaso.
He informed her that no one by that name worked there.

She tried calling him, but her calls went unanswered.

“After 30 minutes he called me and said I needed to look for more people seeking out jobs at the municipality and to also tell them about the money they need to transfer to him.

“He said only after I got more people to apply he would meet up with me to give me my uniform.

“This confirmed to me that it was a scam,” she said.

Ms Mhlanga went to see an employee in the HR-division of the municipality and was advised to open a case at the police station.

She said, when she went there, police told her that it was not their problem and that she should have known better as no one would have to pay when applying for a job.

“I told them I paid for what I thought was medical cover and not for the job,” she said.

Ermelo police however, would according to her not open a case.

Ms Mhlanga concluded, “I have not heard from Mabaso since and he does not answer any of my calls.”

Highvelder sent media enquiries to Capt Carla Prinsloo, spokesman for Ermelo police and awaits response.

Read Mr Mandla Zwane, spokesman of Msukaligwa Municipality in the Highvelder newspaper.