Limpopo Police Hunt for Ghanaian Scammer After Teacher Defrauded of Nearly R2 Million

Police in Limpopo have launched a manhunt for a Ghanaian man accused of scamming a former school teacher out of nearly R2 million. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, arrested 33-year-old South African Mohoto Mangwejana, after it was revealed that the money had been transferred into his bank account.

Mangwejana appeared in the Praktizeer Magistrate’s Court on Friday, facing charges of theft and fraud in connection with a dating scam. According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa, the victim, a 58-year-old pensioner, met the Ghanaian man at Tubatse Crossing Mall in Burgersfort in January 2023.

By August 2023, the man had convinced the woman to start a joint business, claiming he had found two trucks needed for the venture. The trucks, he said, would cost R3 million. The woman, trusting the man, transferred R1.8 million into a bank account in Phalaborwa to cover part of the payment.

However, after the transfer, the woman was unable to reach her supposed boyfriend. The trucks never arrived, and attempts to contact him were unsuccessful. She reported the scam to the police, and the case was transferred to the Hawks for further investigation.

Through their inquiries, the Hawks traced the funds to Mangwejana’s account, leading to his arrest in North West province in December 2024. His case has been postponed to December 11, 2024, for a bail hearing.

While Mangwejana faces charges, the search for the Ghanaian scammer continues. Hawks provincial head Major General Gopz Govender has warned the public to be cautious of increasing romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals. This case follows a series of similar scams, where women, often the primary breadwinners, have been left emotionally and financially devastated.

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com