A 54-year-old woman who has been evading police capture for about five years has finally been nabbed.
Limpopo police confirmed the woman who was wanted for several cases of fraud and theft by false pretenses after being on the run since 2017, was handcuffed at the OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday.
Defrauding job seekers
Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the woman allegedly defrauded several unsuspecting job seekers and other people aspiring to acquire nursing qualifications.
“The suspect allegedly ran Bogus Nursing Colleges and fraudulently registered unsuspecting students under the pretext that they were to acquire diplomas in nursing.
The victims were also assured of employment across the province upon completion of their studies. The suspect’s fraudulent dealings were unmasked when it was eventually discovered that the colleges were not authentic,” Mojapelo said.
Breakthrough
Mojapelo added the students immediately opened cases of fraud and theft under false pretenses against the woman in Polokwane, Morebeng, Thohoyandou, Waterval, and several other police stations in Gauteng.
“The suspect managed to evade an arrest and had been on the run since 2017, after she fled to Nigeria.
“The breakthrough was made on Saturday, 10 March 2023, when Detectives from Makhado received information about the wanted suspect returning to South Africa from Nigeria and that she would be arriving at the OR Tambo International Airport at midday. The members pounced on her soon after she arrived at 12pm, at the airport,” he said.
The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has commended the members for arresting the suspect.
Mojapelo said the woman is expected to appear in the Louis Trichardt Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 13 March 2023.
“Police investigations are continuing,” he said.
Fake kidnapping
Meanwhile, a 20-year-old pupil was handcuffed on Saturday, 11 March 2023, together with his friend, aged 24, for allegedly faking a kidnapping and demanding R7 000 ransom from his family.
Police said the 20-year-old pupil left his home on Friday morning, in Lusaka in Dennilton, as though he was heading to school, which is about 3 kilometres from his home, when he faked the incident.
The duo were arrested after they confessed to having conspired and faked the kidnapping in order to get the money from the family.
In other news – Andile Ncube speaks on rumours he’s dating MaMkhize
Last week, Mzansi media personality Andile Ncube left tongues wagging after posing suggestively with KwaZulu-Natal businesswoman and millionaire Shauwn “MaMkize” Mkhize. The pair sat down for an interview about MaMkhize’s soccer club Royal AM and afterwards decided to take some photos together.
The photos went viral as locals speculated whether the two may secretly be a couple. Heading online after the rumours turned into headlines, Andile shared that the rumours are just that – rumours. Learn More
