The Hawks are hunting a man who defrauded 84 people last week with false promises of jobs in Johannesburg – the latest Eastern Cape incident in a growing trend of con artists targeting people desperate to find work.It follows another recent jobs-for-cash scam, in which former boxer Jackie Gunguluza allegedly pocketed thousands of rands in October by promising jobs at BCM to about 40 people.
People paid between R3000 and R5000 to secure jobs. Police are still looking for him.
The latest conman opened an office in Mthatha and pretended to be recruiting cleaners and security guards for a Johannesburg company. He allegedly promised plum salaries and a good life in Gauteng – a dream for many living in rural areas.
The man then hired two women to do his administrative work in the office as people streamed in to register for jobs.
His victims were told to bring their taxi fare on Wednesday, as they would all be leaving in a group for Johannesburg.
Each person was told to fork out R300 as the balance of the taxi fare would be paid by the company.
The 84, carrying suitcases and sling bags, met at the taxi rank as arranged and handed over their R300 to the man.
They only realised he was gone when the drivers of the taxis waiting to take them to Johannesburg returned to the taxi rank complaining that he had not paid them.
Phatheka Hlazana had come from Mseleni Village in Libode hoping to start her job as a cleaner this week. She said the man, who is only know as Akhona to his victims, had told her about the job in December.
“He said he wanted people who wanted cleaning and security jobs. I did not take him seriously at first but when I saw other people giving him CVs I also submitted mine. He did interviews and said we would get calls giving us details of our accommodation in Johannesburg and departure times.
“When we got here he said we would get Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) T-shirts before we left. We believed him because we know Amcu is a legitimate union. I even gave him a cellphone I was supposed to deliver to someone in Johannesburg. I am really hurt. I did not expect him to do that to me.”
Hlazana said before Akhona disappeared he told some of his victims, who were standing outside the office, to go inside and pray. “He probably did not want them to see the car that was going to pick him up,” she said.
Another of the man’s victims, Zukisani Makhohliso, said: “I quit my job because of this. I was working as a cleaner at Spar in Mthatha. I do not know how I am going to maintain my child and wife now that I am jobless.”
Victim Bavuyise Thanda did not have the taxi fare, so he borrowed the money from his cousin. “I don’t know what I am going to do…it was my cousin’s last money and is down the drain.”
The Hawks commercial crimes unit head in Mthatha, Colonel Nokuzola Ngxola, said police were on the man’s trail.
“We have been advising people to check that recruitment agencies are registered. Anyone with information about this should contact the police,” said Ngxola.
According to StatsSA the latest figures show increased employment levels in seven provinces, but 5000 fewer jobs in EC.
l The Hawks have arrested three women who were allegedly going from town to town buying electronic appliances and cellphones, using stolen identities to open accounts and purchase the goods.
Hawks probe jobs scam
It follows another recent jobs-for-cash scam, in which former boxer Jackie Gunguluza allegedly pocketed thousands of rands in October by promising jobs at BCM to about 40 people.
People paid between R3000 and R5000 to secure jobs. Police are still looking for him.
The latest conman opened an office in Mthatha and pretended to be recruiting cleaners and security guards for a Johannesburg company. He allegedly promised plum salaries and a good life in Gauteng – a dream for many living in rural areas.
The man then hired two women to do his administrative work in the office as people streamed in to register for jobs.
His victims were told to bring their taxi fare on Wednesday, as they would all be leaving in a group for Johannesburg.
Each person was told to fork out R300 as the balance of the taxi fare would be paid by the company.
The 84, carrying suitcases and sling bags, met at the taxi rank as arranged and handed over their R300 to the man.
They only realised he was gone when the drivers of the taxis waiting to take them to Johannesburg returned to the taxi rank complaining that he had not paid them.
Phatheka Hlazana had come from Mseleni Village in Libode hoping to start her job as a cleaner this week. She said the man, who is only know as Akhona to his victims, had told her about the job in December.
“He said he wanted people who wanted cleaning and security jobs. I did not take him seriously at first but when I saw other people giving him CVs I also submitted mine. He did interviews and said we would get calls giving us details of our accommodation in Johannesburg and departure times.
“When we got here he said we would get Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) T-shirts before we left. We believed him because we know Amcu is a legitimate union. I even gave him a cellphone I was supposed to deliver to someone in Johannesburg. I am really hurt. I did not expect him to do that to me.”
Hlazana said before Akhona disappeared he told some of his victims, who were standing outside the office, to go inside and pray. “He probably did not want them to see the car that was going to pick him up,” she said.
Another of the man’s victims, Zukisani Makhohliso, said: “I quit my job because of this. I was working as a cleaner at Spar in Mthatha. I do not know how I am going to maintain my child and wife now that I am jobless.”
Victim Bavuyise Thanda did not have the taxi fare, so he borrowed the money from his cousin. “I don’t know what I am going to do…it was my cousin’s last money and is down the drain.”
The Hawks commercial crimes unit head in Mthatha, Colonel Nokuzola Ngxola, said police were on the man’s trail.
“We have been advising people to check that recruitment agencies are registered. Anyone with information about this should contact the police,” said Ngxola.
According to StatsSA the latest figures show increased employment levels in seven provinces, but 5000 fewer jobs in EC.
l The Hawks have arrested three women who were allegedly going from town to town buying electronic appliances and cellphones, using stolen identities to open accounts and purchase the goods.
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