‘Donor’ dupes Toti songbird
A fundraiser takes place on Friday, 5 June to help Krystle Temmerman get closer to her dream.
IN spite of a terrible experience with a ‘potential donor’ who contacted Krystle Temmerman via Facebook to fund her trip to the USA to participate in Talent America, the Toti muso is going full steam ahead on a fundraising drive to fulfill her dreams.
Initially, the man requested a quote for a gig in Bloemfontein.
“I was a bit sceptical and asked why a Durban muso, he said everyone was booked that weekend. I had recently been conned by someone else. Although wary, I did not want to think such things about people,” said Krystle.
After she sent the quote, he got her number and sent details via WhatsApp. “He told me I could bring someone to the party and I asked my best friend. After we gave him our ID and phone numbers for booking of flights, he started harassing my friend.”
Krystle became suspicious when his stories did not add up. “If I didn’t answer his calls, he would threaten me. I was afraid, disgusted, ashamed and scared. I hated myself for allowing my friend to be put in such a position.”
The man claimed to be critically ill and after a ‘miraculous’ recovery offered to pay for her trip to Talent America. “I was shocked. I gave him the organiser’s details. His ‘banker’ was in touch with the organiser and they sent documents and I slowed down my fundraising because I thought I was going to be sorted before my deadlines for the money to be in.”
However, a day before the payment was to be made he ‘died’. “I had to get a private investigator involved as it was all too much for me. I did a Google search on this man and discovered that he was a 37-year-old alledged rapist who had relocated to Bloemfontein. The PI found out all his criminal cases against him, called and confronted him. I immediately blocked him on all social media platforms and am in the process of bringing a criminal case against him.”
Due to the unfortunate incident, Krystle had one day to raise R18,000 to meet her deadline. “My dreams were going to be crushed. I sang at the Elangeni Hotel and a gentleman from Zambia wanted to know how much money was outstanding. The next day he transferred the R18,000 so that I could carry on with my fundraising and dream.”
She now needs to raise the balance of R24,000 by Monday, 15 June. A fundraiser will be held at Darlene’s Pub in Winklespruit on Friday, 5 June from 6pm. There will be various stalls, food, music, auctions and raffles and the community is urged to support.
