NEWS & ANALYSIS

"Job seekers take revenge!" - Daily Sun

The front page and lead story of SA's largest daily newspaper, May 15 2014

Daily Sun (May 15 2014) - SMANGA promised them jobs . . . but then he ran away with their money.

But now Smanga is the biggest loser because angry job-seekers broke into his room.

THEY TOOK EVERYTHING . . . INCLUDING THE HUGE FLAT SCREEN TV.

Desperate people believed Smanga Ndlovu from Katlehong, Ekurhuleni when he told them he could get them jobs at a company in City Deep on Monday. They even believed him when he said they had to pay R1 500 so that he could get them the jobs and they paid up.

But on Tuesday, when he was supposed to pick them up to take them to the company, he didn't arrive - and that's when they realised they had been scammed.

"There were 10 of us who waited from early in the morning until noon. But he was nowhere to be found and he didn't answer his cell," said Njabulo Mhlambi (25). Angry Njabulo said they managed to find out where Smanga was living and went to the room.

"There was nobody inside the room so we broke in and confiscated his belongings." Njabulo said in the room they found a list of 50 job-seekers who had paid to get jobs.

The list indicates he has been taking people's money since January.

"We are going to keep his belongings until he pays back our money," said Njabulo.

Mohau Mohlamme, another angry man who was conned, said he gave Smanga the money on 1 May.

Then he became suspicious about the job and went back to Smanga to collect his money on 8 May.

But over the weekend Mohau changed his mind again and gave Smanga the money.

"I heard on Monday that Smanga was providing transport and would take those who had paid to the company," said Mohau.

"I should have kept my money in my pocket."

Daily Sun spoke to Smanga who confirmed that he had taken the money.

"I worked at the company and I had been told there were vacancies coming up," he said.

Smanga also said he knows the people he took the money from and was going to refund them.

"I want them to bring back my belongings," he said. Daily Sun spoke to the company.

A company spokesman said the company would investigate and comment when it had details.

See the Daily Sun mobi site for more on this and other stories....

 

The Daily Sun is South Africa's largest daily newspaper with an average circulation of 297,614 (Audit Bureau of Circulations 4th Quarter 2013) and a readership of 5.7m (as per AMPS 2012ab). Its Facebook page can be accessed here. It can be followed on Twitter here. To find about advertising on the Daily Sun click here.

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