Bulawayo woman loses R23k in fake cattle sale

Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter

A BULAWAYO woman has been left counting her losses after a Fort Rixon man hatched a plan to defraud her by purporting to be selling cattle in Filabusi.

This emerged when Nkosilomusa Dlamini who resides at Ebenezer Farm, Fort Rixon appeared before Bulawayo magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Maphosa.

Prosecutor Ms Ashley Dube told the court that on 8 June 2024, the complainant, Ms Charity Masuku from Nkulumane, put an advertisement on Facebook that she was in the business of selling beef. On 10 June, Dlamini contacted the complainant responding to the advertisement and ordered beef which he requested the complainant to deliver at Barons Car Spare Shop in Bulawayo.

“On 11 June the complainant delivered the order and met the accused person. The accused person who had hatched a plan to defraud the complainant, made a misrepresentation to the complainant that he had four cows and one oxen at his plot in Gwatemba, Filabusi that he was selling. The complainant told the accused person that she was interested in buying the cattle.

“On 16 June the accused person contacted the complainant and sent her photographs of the cattle that he purported to be selling via WhatsApp. The two then agreed to go to Filabusi on 18 June 2024 to seal the deal,” said Ms Dube.

The prosecutor revealed that on 18 June 2024 at about 8am the accused met with the complainant at TM Pick and Pay Hyper, Bulawayo so that they could go and collect the cattle in Filabusi as agreed.

They left for Filabusi with a hired Mazda Demio which was used by the accused.

“The accused asked the complainant for fuel money and the complainant gave him US$10 and R1 100. However, before they left Bulawayo the accused person requested to pass through Mater Dei Hospital to see his mother whom he said was admitted there.

“While at Mater Dei Hospital the accused requested the complainant to make a part payment for the cattle so that he could pay for his mother’s hospital bills. The complainant gave the accused person cash amounting to R16 400after which they continued with their journey,” said Ms Dube.

She said when they reached Amazon Business Centre in Filabusi, the accused person asked the complainant to make another payment of R5 500 purporting that he wanted to give it to his employees at his shop at the business centre.

“The complainant gave him the money and he disembarked from the vehicle purporting to be going to his shop and vanished. The complainant realised that he had been duped and made a report at ZRP Hillside.

“Investigations were instituted by detectives from CID Hillside leading to the arrest of the accused person. The total value prejudiced is R23 000 and nothing was recovered,” said Ms Dube.

Dlamini pleaded guilty to the charges and will be back in court for sentencing.

@nyeve14