Muti thieves dupe woman, steals her R2 400

Siphiwe Tshivhase (47) of Makwarela got more than she bargained for last weekend when criminals masquerading as police officers stole the R2,400 she had just withdrawn from the bank.

The money was sent to her by her younger sister, who is working in London. She withdrew the money at one of the banks at Venda Plaza in Thohoyandou.

Just outside the bank, an unknown man came to her and smeared a strange substance, probably 'muti', on her jersey. The man vanished, but soon another man arrived, who told her that he had also been smeared with 'muti'.

He said that he would accompany her to report the matter to the police. "A police vehicle was parked not far from the place where it happened," she said.

She added that when they arrived at the police vehicle, the driver, who flashed a police appointment card, told them that they were experiencing a huge problem of criminals harassing people in Thohoyandou. He then phoned another "officer", saying he had found two victims who had been robbed and that he would be bringing them to the station.

Tshivhase added that, after ending the call, the driver wiped the 'muti' from her jersey and gave her and the other man two brown envelopes "to put our money inside as the magic of the 'muti' could make it disappear or change it into ordinary paper."

Tshivhase further indicated that, after a short drive, she was told to go to a bank where "police" were waiting for her. "I did not find anybody at the bank, and that was when my mind came back; when I opened the envelope, I only found cut pieces of paper. I could not believe my eyes as all the money was gone."

She said she was aware of the money scam but never thought it would ever happen to her. "I know my money is gone, but I want people to know that there are criminals out there who are robbing people in broad daylight," she said.

She said she had reported the matter to the local police.

Thohoyandou police spokesperson Major Mashudu Malelo confirmed the incident, saying most of such cases were the result of negligence on the part of the community.

"We are always giving warnings via the radio and other media, and people seem to ignore such warnings."  He added that they had opened a case of theft under false pretences and were appealing to the public to go to the nearest shop if they are approached by people they do not know or someone wanting money from them.

"Ask them to phone the police and they will help you. We have a good relationship with business against crime."