NATIONAL NEWS - A man claiming to be a traditional healer has allegedly scammed residents in Zithobeni extension 3 in Bronkhorstspruit out of R12,000 by saying he could find a missing child.
Lesley Malibongwe, a five-year-old child was last seen on 9 May. According to Missing Children South Africa on Facebook, the child is deaf and unable to speak.
The Rekord reports that while the man had initially demanded R15,000, the community could only raise R12,000 through a door-to-door campaign.
After receiving the money on Saturday, the “traditional healer” had still not found the child.
Community member Kgaugelo Phiri told Rekord that the man only offered “conspiracy theories” and “beat about the bush and started playing victim” before allegedly disappearing into thin air with the money.
The community opened a case with local police.
“His mother is said not to be doing well and is suffering from a heart condition. All we are trying to do is find the child,” Phiri was quoted as saying.
Missing Children South Africa has urged anyone with more information to content the group or the Tshwana East FCS Unit.
Community members have also taken to social media to spread information on the missing child in search for help.
