SWAZI WOMAN ARRESTED FOR E2.7M FRAUD IN SOUTH AFRICA

MBABANE – A Swazi woman has been arrested in South Africa for allegedly masterminding close to E3 million fraud committed through a pyramid scheme that targeted pensioners.

Nomsa Mavuso was apprehended for allegedly swindling close to 20 people a sum of R2.7 million.
Mavuso and her accomplice face up to 50 charges of fraud.

She, together with her accomplice, Sifiso Dlamini, allegedly operated in areas between Klerksdorp, Orkney and Stilfontein in North West Province in South Africa last year.
The duo allegedly lured their victims to invest their pension money in an international money-trade business with a guarantee of immense profits within months.

They operated under the name Real Bantu Wealth Trading and Mavuso allegedly made a variety of presentations to people prior to making them sign a form and giving them her banking details to deposit the money.

Information from a South Africa publication, Sowetan, was that one of the victims, identified as Buyisile Tambodala 46, is now left with a emdebt after he was allegedly robbed of R157 000 of his employment detachment package last year. The ex-mine worker had intended to start a farming business before he allegedly met one of Mavuso’s associates.

Tambodala was allegedly informed that Mavuso graduated from an overseas university and had come back to South Africa to establish her own company. “I was convinced, I paid her R150 000 which was supposed to earn me R1.5 million within four months and a R7 500 administration fee,” he was quoted. He further said in December 2013 Mavuso told him that the business was not running well because of former President Nelson Mandela’s death and that was when he began to be suspicious.

“I am now broke and in debt. My idea of having a farm is purely a dream for now.” It was alleged that Mavuso made a presentation at the local mine and the word spread.

She was apprehended in June after numerous complaints from the victims. Another victim, Xolile Ndawule ,lost R40 000 in the scam and half of it was budgeted to fund his daughter’s university fees next year. Ndawule said that it was a huge setback for his family and his daughter was likely to miss going to the university since he had promised to pay for her.

Hawks spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko confirmed the fraud case.
“The two were arrested for running a pyramid scheme ‘Real Bantu’. They allegedly conscripted people to invest in this scheme and promised them high returns (profits). A number of people invested, a total of E2.7-million was collected by the fraudsters and the victims got nothing in return,” said Ramaloko.  

The suspects are currently out on bail and they will appear again at the Klerksdorp Magistrates Court on November 14, 2014.
Mavuso joins the growing list of Swazis who have been arrested in South Africa for prominent fraud and theft cases.

Two months ago, this publication revealed that a group of Swazis working as miners in South Africa had been arrested in what is regarded as SA’s biggest gold theft case where they are alleged to have, operating as a syndicate, managed to steal gold worth about E200 million.

Owning trucking businesses, farms, mansions in Swaziland and South Africa, they are currently grounded in SA after they were released on bail on condition that they would not leave that country.
   

 
 

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