SA deportee duped of US$600

A 43-year-old Harare man has appeared in court for allegedly defrauding a South African deportee of US$600 after falsely claiming that he could have his one-year entry ban lifted.

Humfrey Chogugudza appeared before a Harare magistrate facing a charge of fraud. He was remanded in custody pending a bail application.

The State alleges that the complainant, Gift Nyakuromba, was deported from South Africa on June 17, 2026, and was subsequently issued with a one-year ban preventing him from re-entering the country.

On the same day, Nyakuromba reportedly visited the South African Embassy in Belgravia, Harare, seeking information on how the ban could be lifted.

Embassy officials allegedly informed him that any application to have the ban lifted had to be submitted online.

According to the State, as Nyakuromba was leaving the embassy, Chogugudza approached him and falsely claimed that he had the ability to facilitate the removal of the ban.

Chogugudza allegedly demanded US$600, which Nyakuromba paid after being promised that the process would be completed.

However, the court heard that the ban was not lifted and no application or other process was completed.

The matter resurfaced on August 28, 2026, when Nyakuromba returned to the South African Embassy.

The State alleges that Chogugudza approached him again and repeated his claims that he could facilitate the lifting of the ban.

Nyakuromba reportedly raised the alarm, resulting in Chogugudza being arrested by authorities at the scene.

The prosecution alleges that Chogugudza's actions caused Nyakuromba an actual financial prejudice of US$600, with none of the money having been recovered.

The allegations have not been tested in court, and Chogugudza is presumed innocent until proven guilty.