SA-based Zimbabwean loses $25,000 in stand scam

A ZIMBABWEAN based in South Africa lost $25 000 to a syndicate that allegedly duped her into building a house on a stand illegally acquired from the Bulawayo City Council.

Sithabile Pretty Sibanda was made to pay $15 000 for the housing stand before appointing one of the alleged conman to oversee the construction of the house in 2014.

The alleged scam was revealed yesterday when Thandiwe Ncube (50), Trust Honest Nhopi (21), Maritha Manyuka (33) - all from Cowdry Park - and Njabulo Sizo Sibanda (29) of Nkulumane 5 appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Tawanda Muchemwa facing fraud charges.

According to the prosecutors, Nhopi roped in Sizo Sibanda, a former council employee to provide fraudulent documents from the local authority that made the deal appear above board.

The crime came to light after Sibanda decided to check on the authenticity of the deal after a conversation with a friend. She checked with council and was told that the stand was non-existent.

Only R11 000 and $400 were recovered.