Swazi Observer

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MAN DEFRAUDS WOMEN POSING AS A NEEDY ‘VARSITY STUDENT’

By Bongiwe Dlamini | 2020-05-27

TWO church women’s faith was tested when a stranger used sob stories to milk them their cash.

The women were defrauded cash amounting to E1 910 by Bongani Thembumusa Vilakati (32) of Nkwalini under Chief Mandanda.

Vilakati faced a theft by false presence charge in that he misrepresented himself as a university student who needed financial assistance from one of the complainants, Lungile Dlamini.

According to court records, in November 2019 while at Mpholi, Vilakati approached Dlamini while at her home and said he needed counselling. Dlamini, when relaying the events that led to the commission of the offence, said it was around 9am when Vilakati came to her home and introduced himself as Bongani Gama.

He reportedly told the elderly woman that he had been advised by Dlamini’s church mate to go to her for assistance as he needed counselling on personal issues. Dlamini, who is also a land lady, told the court that she advised Vilakati to seek assistance from organisations that provide counselling services.

Even so, Dlamini said she asked to call one of her female tenants to assist her as she has a hearing problem. After the tenant had been called, Vilakati borrowed some money, E650 to be exact, which he claimed he needed to send certain papers to the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) where he claimed to be a student.

Although she did not have the money at the time, Dlamini said she relayed Vilakati’s story to another woman believed he was genuine and he was sent to her by a trusted church mate. “The woman I approached was touched by Vilakati’s plight and she decided to go to a loan shark to borrow some cash to give to him,’’ stated Dlamini in court.

The money was reportedly sent to Vilakati through mobile money and he confirmed receipt of the cash by calling the two women. After some time, a certain man who identified himself as a Simelane from UNESWA called Dlamini to thank her for helping Vilakati.

supposed

The supposed Simelane man also told the elderly woman that Vilakati was expected to travel to South Africa to report that his grandmother had passed on.

To be able to travel to South Africa, the caller reportedly told Dlamini that Vilakati needed E700. Still out of pity, Dlamini said she and another woman made means to raise the E700 for Vilakati and they sent it to him through mobile money.

This was before Dlamini knew that Vilakati’s grandmother had died a long time before he approached her.

A few days later, the Simelane man reportedly called Dlamini to inform her that Vilakati had returned from South Africa and he was injured after he was mugged. He told her that the bogus UNESWA student was admitted at Matsanjeni Health Centre and he needed E600 plus E60 to settle his medical bill, for transport back to Manzini and to purchase airtime so that he could communicate with his relatives.

The man is alleged to have promised to settle Vilakati’s debts and further pay interest. After these monies were sent to Vilakati he reportedly confirmed their receipt. However, when Dlamini tried to contact Vilakati through his mobile phone after the monies were sent to him, he could not be reached as his number was not available on the network.

On days where he called her it is said he used a private number.

As time passed by Vilakati stopped taking Dlamini’s phone calls altogether. In his defence, Vilakati told the court that he was misled by friends into committing such a crime. He said he was remorseful and, therefore, pleaded with the court to caution and discharge him, especially because he had two children who depended on him.

“I do not have money and proof to this is that I failed to pay bail,’’ Vilakati said. Additionally, he asked for forgiveness from Dlamini during her arranged meeting while he was at Zakhele Correctional Centre.

This, he said, was before he sent his girlfriend to go to Dlamini to ask for forgiveness on his behalf. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of E3 000.

One year or E1 000 fine was suspended for a period of two years on condition that he did not commit the same offence during this period.

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