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Lamba's court case postponed again

IN THE DOCK:Accused Mandla Lamba in the Protea magistrate's court yesterday. PHOTO: ANTONIO MUCHAVE
IN THE DOCK:Accused Mandla Lamba in the Protea magistrate's court yesterday. PHOTO: ANTONIO MUCHAVE

SELF-PROCLAIMED "billionaire" Mandla Lamba appeared briefly in the Protea magistrate's court yesterday.

Lamba, 25, made his first appearance in Protea after his case was transferred from the Orlando magistrate's court.

He faces fraud and theft charges, and he arrived in court in leg irons.

Lamba who was dressed in a blue jacket, matching shirt and designer jeans was not asked to plead.

He allegedly swindled taxi owners of thousands of rand with the promise he would get them new vehicles.

It is alleged he approached several taxi owners and promised to help them acquire new taxis, provided they deposited R40000 each into his account.

After the money was deposited, the victims never got their vehicles. Lamba disappeared and the owners opened cases of fraud and theft in 2008.

He also absconded when the case was in its final stages.

Police said Lamba was involved in a freak car accident in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, in 2007. Wayne Greeff and his 8-year-old son Brandon were killed in the horrific crash.

He was charged with culpable homicide but absconded when the case was about to be finalised.

He has a warrant of arrest pending against him for the case.

Lamba came under the spotlight last year when he claimed that he was a "mining billionaire". He claimed that he and his company, East American Resources, were worth "billions".

He also claimed that businessman Cyril Ramaphosa and his wife Dr Tshepo Motsepe were his "mentors, counsellors and parental guiders".

Lamba is expected to appear again in court on October 20.

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