By Doreen Mokgolo
- A fake sangoma gang used love and traditional healing to trick a pensioner out of R2.3-million.
- The alleged scammer’s husband has been arrested while she remains in jail for another fraud case.
The husband of an alleged fraudster has been arrested in connection with another big money scam involving a fake sangoma.
McBeth Ngcobo appeared in the Ottosdal Magistrate’s Court after his wife Makgomo Doris Ngcobo’s bank account was used to steal R2.3-million from a 63-year-old woman.
Police say in October 2021, the victim’s friend took her to a sangoma in Golf View, Mahikeng. The sangoma told her to resign and take her pension money so her ancestors could bless her.
“The victim was provided with a bank account belonging to Makgomo Doris Ngcobo, 43, McBeth’s wife. The money was transferred into the said account and thereafter the suspects started ignoring her phone calls,” said police spokesperson Warrant Officer Amogelang Malwetse.
McBeth was released on R10,000 bail. He will appear with his wife at the Klerksdorp Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 26 January.
Makgomo couldn’t attend court as she was already in jail for another scam. She and two Ugandans, Derrick Nsubunga and Nassazi Joan, were denied bail at the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court last month.
The Hawks arrested them for running a romance scam that stole up to R2-million from victims.
They allegedly worked together, with Nsubunga romancing women before sending them to Joan, who posed as a sangoma. Joan would tell victims they had bad luck and needed to quit their jobs or take loans.
The money would then go into Makgomo’s account before the scammers disappeared.
Pictured above: Makgomo Doris Ngcobo.
Source: Doreen Mokgolo
