BOGUS healers have conned several people out of their life saving, leaving at least one man homeless and penniless.
Gabriel Semema was left destitute after he gave the conmen R729000. He was going to buy a new house and start a business.
"The healer called himself Dr Muntu and during consultation told me that I was okay, but my father was not well and that my family needed my attention. He said they would be blessed," a distraught Semema said.
Dr Muntu then asked Semema about the type of work he did.
"I told him I had just taken a package and that I was in the process of selling my house and moving to Kriel.
"He said my money would have to be 'blessed' first before I could enjoy my new venture into business.
"I withdrew R279000 in instalments and gave it to him. He demanded I bring the R450000 I got from the sale of the house to be blessed as well," the father of two said.
"Dr Muntu used to come to my house in a maroon Toyota Tazz with the registration number XSB 908 GP to enquire about the delay in bringing the money. After taking the last R450000 he started dodging me and avoided my phone calls."
Semema, who had just bought a new house, was kicked out after six weeks because he could not afford the payments. He found a job as a contract worker at a Limpopo mine.
Semema said he decided to consult one of the "healers" in Evander in March because he was not feeling well.
He is one of five victims conned by bogus healers from Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda - all operating in Mpumalanga.
David Masuku, 60, of Embalenhle, was promised R4million but lost R81000; Sidwell Kayise, 60, was swindled out of R500000 and Sam Hlope lost R319000 and a car he had purchased from the conmen. A woman from Embalenhle was also robbed of R330000.
The syndicate members has consulting rooms in an old complex and in suburban houses in Evander near Secunda under false names.
The victims responded to flyers distributed on street corners or were lured by agents employed by the fraudsters. During "consultations" the fraudsters tricked their victims into revealing their bank balances and withdrawing the money so that they could bless it.
In cases they promised to turn the money into millions.
Kayise's wife, Ethel, 57, of Eastern Cape, wept hysterically when her recently retired husband told how he was tricked into giving his R500000 pension money to "Dr Thaban" in August.
Ethel said: "I was sceptical but he did not listen. Now we have nothing to eat."
Kayise said: "I was taken into a dark room and played a recording which the man claimed was the voice of his ancestors. The voice said the ancestors were still processing the money."
'Healers' ruin lives
BOGUS healers have conned several people out of their life saving, leaving at least one man homeless and penniless.
Gabriel Semema was left destitute after he gave the conmen R729000. He was going to buy a new house and start a business.
"The healer called himself Dr Muntu and during consultation told me that I was okay, but my father was not well and that my family needed my attention. He said they would be blessed," a distraught Semema said.
Dr Muntu then asked Semema about the type of work he did.
"I told him I had just taken a package and that I was in the process of selling my house and moving to Kriel.
"He said my money would have to be 'blessed' first before I could enjoy my new venture into business.
"I withdrew R279000 in instalments and gave it to him. He demanded I bring the R450000 I got from the sale of the house to be blessed as well," the father of two said.
"Dr Muntu used to come to my house in a maroon Toyota Tazz with the registration number XSB 908 GP to enquire about the delay in bringing the money. After taking the last R450000 he started dodging me and avoided my phone calls."
Semema, who had just bought a new house, was kicked out after six weeks because he could not afford the payments. He found a job as a contract worker at a Limpopo mine.
Semema said he decided to consult one of the "healers" in Evander in March because he was not feeling well.
He is one of five victims conned by bogus healers from Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda - all operating in Mpumalanga.
David Masuku, 60, of Embalenhle, was promised R4million but lost R81000; Sidwell Kayise, 60, was swindled out of R500000 and Sam Hlope lost R319000 and a car he had purchased from the conmen. A woman from Embalenhle was also robbed of R330000.
The syndicate members has consulting rooms in an old complex and in suburban houses in Evander near Secunda under false names.
The victims responded to flyers distributed on street corners or were lured by agents employed by the fraudsters. During "consultations" the fraudsters tricked their victims into revealing their bank balances and withdrawing the money so that they could bless it.
In cases they promised to turn the money into millions.
Kayise's wife, Ethel, 57, of Eastern Cape, wept hysterically when her recently retired husband told how he was tricked into giving his R500000 pension money to "Dr Thaban" in August.
Ethel said: "I was sceptical but he did not listen. Now we have nothing to eat."
Kayise said: "I was taken into a dark room and played a recording which the man claimed was the voice of his ancestors. The voice said the ancestors were still processing the money."
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos