Man baited out of almost R200k and bakkie in sale scam
The parties met in a public place to discuss the sale before a dispute began over the transfer of the agreed amount.
An Umhlanga man has allegedly been robbed of a what he thought was his new vehicle.
The man spent Friday afternoon arguing with scammers before being removed from a bakkie which he had recently transferred money to purchase.
A local security company assisted the victim and the matter has since been reported to police.
Sale agreement turned sour
The would-be buyer responded to an advertisement stating a white Ford Ranger Wildtrak was for sale at a price of R550 000.
The alleged scammers attempted to have the buyer transfer the asking price to them using only photos and videos, but the buyer insisted on seeing the vehicle in person.
On Friday morning, the buyer and friend met with representatives of the seller at King Shaka International Airport where they discussed the transaction.
After agreeing a sale price of R195 000, the buyer allegedly transferred the money to the seller, on the pretence of leaving the airport in a new ride.
However, a dispute began despite the funds being transferred between accounts with the same bank.
'After the monies were transferred, the seller refused to accept that the money was reflecting in his account and informed his employee not to release the vehicle,' stated Prem Balram from Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA).
Robbed at service station
The stand off at the airport continued for several hours before the seller agreed to meet the buyer at a service station in Verulam.
At the service station, two armed men dressed in khaki uniforms arrived in another white Ford Ranger and promptly took the vehicle at gunpoint.
'The men forcefully removed the passenger from the vehicle and drove off with the Ford Wildtrak,' confirmed Balram.
RUSA were called shorty after 6pm, whereafter the victim was taken to the police for assistance.
NOW READ: Lawyer, plumber and then security professional: Inside the elaborate cons of scammers nabbed by the Hawks
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
6 days ago
- The South African
Bogus doctor arrested in Mpumalanga
A bogus doctor from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was arrested in Embalenhle, Mpumalanga, after allegedly posing as a medical doctor. This incident follows a compliance inspection conducted by a Health Inspector at a local medical practice. The inspector paid a visit to the surgery that operated under the name of a registered medical doctor (the suspect) in Extension 7. Upon arrival, the inspector entered the consultation room of the suspect, where he found him conducting medical consultations and questioned him. During the questioning, the 36-year-old suspect, Jonathan Ilungwa Kilimba, produced five patient files to 'prove' he was a real doctor. However, when asked whether he was registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) to confirm he was a registered doctor, he confessed that he was not registered with the organisation. Kilimba was immediately arrested and detained at Embalenhle SAPS for violating the Health Professions Act. This also prompted investigations to check the authenticity of his asylum documentation since he is a foreign national. The suspect is expected to appear before the Evander Magistrate's Court on 17 June 2025, over charges of impersonating a healthcare professional. The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, urged the public to verify the credentials of medical practitioners before consulting. 'We urge the public to always verify the credentials of medical professionals before consulting them. The SAPS remains committed to protecting the public from unqualified individuals who put lives at risk by operating illegally,' pleaded Mkhwanazi. Four suspects were arrested after using muthi to rob people in Verulam CBD, KZN, on Friday, 13 June 2025. The four suspects, two men and two women, are also linked to committing this crime in other areas. According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the female suspects would approach people and start a conversation to kick things off. During the conversation, the suspects would smear muthi on the victim's arm and convince them to enter their vehicle. The muthi would make the victims feel weak and disorientated, which affected their thinking abilities. RUSA explained, 'They would drive off with their male accomplices and the victims would be robbed of their valuables before being dumped on the side of the road.' A silver VW Polo used in the crime was seized. A victim who chose to remain anonymous was also a victim of this incident and had her phone stolen while visiting the mall. She says that she was waiting for her mother outside a bank at the mall when a man suddenly bumped his shoulder against hers, smearing the muthi on her. A few moments after the incident, while still trying to process what happened, an old woman came to her and told her that the man who just bumped into her put muthi on her so she should follow her to get help. 'I responded to her, and everything changed. It was like an out-of-body experience, I felt numb, yet aware of everything around me. I couldn't move or respond except when they told me to. The next thing I knew, I was in their car. I don't know how I got there. Luckily, I had no money on me,' she recalled. She adds that the woman then instructed her to perform certain rituals to remove the muthi. While she was distracted and dizzy, they quickly swapped her phone with a fake one. She says, 'They then told me to get out of the car and urinate on my hand. After 30 minutes, I was told to apply the urine on my face to remove the muthi.' The victim says that she went to the security officers at the mall to tell them about what just transpired but when they searched for the suspects, they had long left the mall. After this experience, she says that she no longer feels safe to travel alone and does not trust anyone. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
12-06-2025
- The Citizen
Daughter pleads guilty to brutal murder father in Limpopo
A traditional healer alleged that her father was responsible for her mother's death through the use of 'muthi'. With Father's Day just a few days away, a 28-year-old woman has been convicted after pleading guilty to the brutal murder of her father, a Circuit Manager at the Limpopo Department of Education. Mologadi Magdeline Mehlape appeared in the Polokwane High Court on Wednesday, where she was found guilty of murdering her father, Dr Malekutu Johannes Mehlape The incident occurred at Malekutu's home in Mankweng Zone 1, outside Polokwane, on 28 December 2023. Conviction National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said Mologadi was convicted on charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. 'The court sentenced her to life imprisonment for murder and 15 years' imprisonment for robbery, with the sentences to run concurrently.' Malabi-Dzhangi said that four other accused, 34-year-olds Tshepo Gabriel Ranoto, Hlologelo Klaas Mogotlane, Mahlodi Melida Mathole, and 42-year-old Michael Sello Molongoane, appeared alongside Mologadi in court. ALSO READ: Pakistani national spaza shop owner arrested in murder case of 14-year-old Likhona Fose 'They face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. The trial for these accused has been separated and postponed to 20 June 2025 in the Polokwane High Court.' Murder Malabi-Dzhangi said during Mologadi's appearance in the dock, the court heard the grim details of how she orchestrated her father's murder following claims made by Mogotlane (Accused 3), a traditional healer, who alleged that her father was responsible for her mother's death through the use of 'muthi'. 'When attempts to retaliate using traditional means failed, Mehlape enlisted the help of various family members to hire a contract killer, agreeing to pay R200 000 for the murder. 'On the night of the incident, Mehlape unlocked the gate and main door, granting the perpetrators access to the house. The deceased was ambushed in his bedroom while asleep, shot multiple times, and robbed of several valuables, including his cellphone,' Malabi-Dzhangi said. Sentence Malabi-Dzhangi said a Ford Ranger double cab, believed to have been used during the crime, was seized during the arrests in Mankweng, and a firearm allegedly used in the killing was recovered during an arrest in Zebediela. In mitigation, Mologadi apologised to her family, noting that she is the primary caregiver of her one-year-nine-month-old daughter and had unresolved disputes with her father. However, state advocate Muneiwa Ratshibvumo argued that the guilty plea was motivated by overwhelming evidence rather than genuine remorse. She described the murder as 'gruesome and heartless,' urging the court to impose the prescribed minimum sentence. Violent crimes Malabi-Dzhangi said the NPA welcomes the conviction and life sentence, viewing it as a clear affirmation of the justice system's resolve to hold perpetrators of serious and violent crimes accountable. 'This outcome underscores the NPA's unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law and securing justice for victims and their families,' Malabi-Dzhangi said. ALSO READ: Elderly mother and son shot dead in KZN
IOL News
12-06-2025
- IOL News
Woman jailed for life after killing her father she believed used 'muthi' to kill her mother
IOL Mologadi Magdeline Mehlape pleaded guilty to the murder of her father, Dr Malekutu Johannes Mehlape, Picture: NPA A 28-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to killing her father because she believed he was responsible for the death of her mother has been jailed to life imprisonment. Mologadi Magdeline Mehlape was sentenced in the Polokwane High Court on Wednesday. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said despite Mehlape's guilty plea, the court imposed the prescribed minimum sentence because the State believed the guilty plea was motivated by overwhelming evidence rather than genuine remorse. Mehlape killed her father Dr Malekutu Johannes Mehlape, who was a Circuit Manager at the Limpopo Department of Education on December 28, 2023. The NPA Mehlape orchestrated the murder following claims made by a traditional healer, who alleged that her father was responsible for her mother's death through the use of "muthi". "When attempts to retaliate using traditional means failed, Mehlape enlisted the help of various family members to hire a contract killer, agreeing to pay R200,000 for the murder," explained NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi. The court heard that on the night of the murder Mehlape unlocked the gate and main door, granting the perpetrators access to the house. Malekutu was ambushed in his bedroom while asleep, shot multiple times, and robbed of several valuables, including his cellphone. A Ford Ranger double cab believed to have been used during the crime was seized during the arrests in Mankweng, and a firearm allegedly used in the killing was recovered during an arrest in Zebediela. Four others were also arrested in connection with the murder including traditional healer Mahlodi Melida Mathole, 34. The other three accused are Tshepo Gabriel Ranoto, Hlologelo Klaas Mogotlane, both 34, and Michael Sello Molongoane,42. Their trials have been separated and expected to appear in court on June 20, 2025 for trial. They face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. In mitigation, Mehlape apologised to her family, noting that she is the primary caregiver of her toddler daughter and had unresolved disputes with her father. IOL News
