MPUMALANGA – Kenneth Simelane (64), Tlhapelo Cordelia Mampane (43), have appeared before the Witbank Magistrate’s Court on the 10 and 12 April 2018 respectively after they were arrested for operating a loan shark business.
The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in a joint operation with South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and National Credit Regulation (NCR), conducted a sting operation in Linnville Emalahleni following up on information about an illegal money lending business. SASSA cards were reportedly being confiscated in the process in exchange of the said loans which is a contravention of the National Credit Act (Act 34 of 2005).
The operation led to the house where cash, identity documents, driver licences, foreign nationals passports, SASSA cards, bank cards and gift cards were found in the house. Mampane arrested on the spot and appeared in the Witbank Magistrate Court on the 10 April 2018, she was released on warning.
Simelane was not in the house at the time. He was later arrested and appeared at the same magistrate court on the 12th April 2018. He was also released on warning. Both the accused are expected to appear in court on the 18 May 2018.
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga, Major General, Zodwa Mokoena has warned the public about the existence of unscrupulous lenders.
“People need to be responsible for their grant benefits and stop giving personal documents in exchange of illegal loans” she said.
