R3 million dating scam case postponed after lawyer's no-show in court
Image: Hawks
Three men have appeared in court after they were arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, for defrauding an unsuspecting woman of her R3 million in a dating scam.
Last week, IOL reported that a third suspect was arrested for an intense scam where an unidentified woman lost R3 million in the name of love, back in 2024.
The victim, whose identity is withheld to protect her from victimisation, said she developed an online relationship with a person she believed was a white man called 'Mark Hermanus', whom she had met on Facebook.
Gauteng Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela said after exchanging numbers, the woman and the scammer started chatting on WhatsApp, and once they had 'gotten to know each other", the scammer asked her to lend him money to pay the medical bills of his sick son.
But these weren't modest medical bills, and the unsuspecting woman eventually parted with R3 million, which she deposited into two bank accounts.
After the crime was reported to the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, an investigation ensued and the first suspect, Gabriel Okori, was arrested in Cape Town in October 2024. Okori, a Nigerian national, was in November released on bail of R5,000 in November. Okori has been attending his court appearances on charges of fraud and theft.
In March, IOL reported that a second suspect, Justice Motsamai Khanyapa, was arrested in connection with the scam. Khanyapa was arrested in Orange Farm, Johannesburg, and he was released on bail of R1,000 by the Pretoria Magistrate's Court.
A third suspect, Thabo Derrick Mnguni, was arrested on 23 June.
Thabo Derrick Mnguni was arrested on 23 June as the third suspect.
Image: Hawks
All three accused men - Okori, Khanyapa, and Mnguni have appeared before court on Tuesday, and the case was postponed as Mnguni did not have legal representation. Mnguni was schduled to apply for bail. Okori and Khanyapa are already on bail.
"The lawyer for the third suspect did not show up in court. The matter was postponed to 9 July 2025," said Mavimbela.
Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
According to the Hawks, the money defrauded from the unsuspecting woman had been deposited into the bank accounts of Khanyapa and Mnguni.
Meanwhile, head of the Hawks in Gauteng, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, commended the 'meticulous investigation' conducted by the investigating team, and cautioned members of the public to be vigilant and safeguard themselves against such scams.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
31 minutes ago
- IOL News
Gauteng High Court reinstates fraud charges against former crime intelligence chief
The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, has reinstated fraud charges against former financial and administrative services section head in the SA Police Service crime intelligence division's secret services account Brigadier Tiyani Hlungwani. Image: Jacques Naude / Independent Newspapers Fraud charges against former brigadier Tiyani Hlungwani, former financial and administrative services section head in the SA Police Service (SAPS) crime intelligence division's secret services account, have been reinstated after he was acquitted and discharged. He was found not guilty and discharged in respect of all three charges to which he had pleaded not guilty. Hlungwani was acquitted of fraud charges by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court last year; however, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) successfully appealed this decision. The full bench of the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, Acting Judge Siboniso Sambo and Judge Mandla Mbongwe, set aside his acquittal and discharge last month. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The matter has been referred back to the specialised commercial crimes court for the continuation of the trial. In June 2018, Hlungwani was arrested for defrauding the State of R50,000 a year earlier alongside Major-General Pat Mokhushane and his wife, Lieutenant-Colonel Zandile Mokhushane, as well as Brigadier Manana Leonora Phetlhe, and charged with money laundering and contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (Precca). Hlungwani's first fraud charge related to unlawfully and falsely and with intent to defraud giving out and pretending to certain crime intelligence officers that there was an urgent need to secure catering services for a meeting of senior cops, which justified the deviation from normal procurement processes and payment of an advance into the personal account of one of his co-accused to the prejudice of the SAPS and/or the general public. The second fraud charge unlawfully and falsely and with intent to defraud giving out and pretending to the former acting head of the crime Intelligence's secret services account, Major-General Obed Nemutanzhela, that a claim by one of his co-accused that she incurred expenses for catering services during the crime intelligence meeting in June 2017 was legitimate. He claimed that a deviation letter attached to the claim was signed before the advance was paid into a bank account. However, the truth was the fact that the submitted claim was not legitimate and that the deviation letter was written and signed about a week later at Hlungwani's insistence or advice. He was also charged with contravening Precca by unlawfully and intentionally aiding Pat and Phetlhe to do the same in terms of the act. The specialised commercial crimes court ruled that the charge of fraud could not succeed against Hlungwani due to a lack of evidence showing he benefited from the allegedly stolen money. But Acting Judge Sambo and Judge Mbongwe disagreed, finding that the elements of fraud do not require that an accused person should benefit from the unlawful transaction. 'As long as the State can prove the misrepresentation and prejudice, there is a prima facie case to which the accused must answer,' reads their judgment dated June 12. Neither Hlungwani nor his legal representative made an appearance during the NPA's appeal last month. He also could not be reached for comment on Saturday.
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Gayton praises son's success: 'You grew up seeing me in jail'
Gayton McKenzie has heaped praise on his eldest son, Calvin Le John, who recently purchased SuperSport United, which he will rename Siwelele FC. The Minister of Sport has spoken about having eight children – from six women – including the advocate who helped him during his army robbery prison sentence. In an emotional Facebook post, Gayton McKenzie praised his eldest son, Calvin Le John, for his successful acquisition of SuperSport United. The 51-year-old shared how Calvin was born mere hours after he was convicted of armed robbery in 1996. He posted of his son: 'You grew up seeing me through jail bars. You never visited me on the weekends of the home games of Siwelele because you and your grandpa would go and watch the games religiously just like me and him when I was young. Gayton McKenzie has praised his son Calvin Le John for purchasing SuperSport United. Calvin plans to rename the club Siwelele FC. Images via X 'I remember you told me that it brings you closer to me emotionally. Knowing that you're doing the same thing I did with my father and your grandfather. Despite not having his father around, Gayton claims that Calvin Le John – who changed his last name – was a 'good kid with good intentions'. He continued: 'You suffered not growing up without your Dad. I thank God for a powerful mother who stood in the gap. You are the main reason why I behaved better. Because I wanted to come out and didn't wanna see you grow up through jail bars forever. After Gayton was freed and established his political party, the Patriotic Alliance, Calvin stepped up to take control of the family businesses. He has been at the helm, ever since. Of his decision to purchase the club, which they hope to bring to Bloemfontein, Gayton added: 'I agree fully with your purchase of SuperSport [United]. Because we both stood at the deathbed of my father and your grandad and we promised that we will always look after Siwelele. 'Siwelele is not a team, it's our Heritage, our culture, and part of our soul'. Gayton McKenzie has stayed mum about the identities of the six women who birthed his eight children, one of them being Calvin Le John. However, it is public knowledge that he wed lawyer, Nicolette Joubert, in 2003. This came after Nicolette was sent to investigate Gayton and others' allegations of corruption at the Grootvlei Prison involving prison gangs, warders, and inmates. The exposé became international news, and Gayton was named one of the 'Grootvlei Four.' The couple had two daughters together. A decade later, Gayton hinted that he had wronged his wife, whom he had since divorced. He tweeted: 'I hurt my ex-wife indescribably. But a bad word about me will never be heard by strangers or our kids, sheer class always.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Eyewitness News
2 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Defence in murder case against 12 soldiers dismisses claims of rogue unit in SANDF
JOHANNESBURG - The defence in the murder case against 12 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers dismissed claims of a rogue unit in the army. This comes amid renewed scrutiny of the conduct of the special forces unit and speculation that they may be involved in activities above the law. Twelve defence force members appeared in the Randburg Magistrates Court on Friday for a continuation of their bail hearing following their arrest almost two weeks ago. READ: State accuses SANDF special forces of elaborate cover-up in murder of Hawks investigator Mathipa They face charges of murder, kidnapping, fraud and obstructing the ends of justice. The SANDF special forces unit has previously been accused of corruption, torture and even murder. The allegations have been tested but the report into possible misconduct in the military has yet to be made public. The Moorhouse Report is believed to contain what is termed as "explosive details of rogue SANDF activity", including the use of front companies and claims of politically motivated killings. The execution of Hawks investigator, Francis Mathipa, allegedly by some SANDF members, renewed calls for an audit into the army's conduct. But in the bail application, the defence lawyers for the accused have denied the claims. The defence said there was no motive for the crimes they are accused of, including the kidnapping of two foreign nationals, the pair's possible murder and Mathipa's assassination. The defence said that the soldiers in the dock were disciplined officials who would not set a foot out of line without command. The matter will be back in court next week for a bail outcome.
