Online Reporter
Moreblessing Ncube
A PROPERTY scam has rocked Bulawayo after a woman posing as a real estate fixer conned a client out of more than a thousand dollars.
Rejoice Ncube (48) of Luveve appeared before Tredgold Magistrate Maxwell Ncube, who fined her US$300. In default of payment, she faces three months in prison. She was also sentenced to eight months behind bars, with three months suspended for three years, provided she pays restitution of US$1,040 to her victim, Nonhlanhla Dube, by October 10.
Prosecutor Mehluli Ndlovu told the court that the scam took place on August 22 outside Bulawayo Central Police Station. Ncube approached Dube and promised to purchase a residential stand on her behalf. Trusting Ncube, Dube handed over US$1,040 for the deal.
Instead of securing the property, Ncube allegedly pocketed the money for her own use, violating the trust she had built with her victim.
“The total value stolen is US$1,040, and nothing was recovered,” Ndlovu stated in court.
Magistrate Maxwell noted that since the money was never recovered, it was clear that Ncube had fully benefited from the fraud, making restitution to Dube a legal and moral obligation.
In court, Ncube claimed she had no funds while in custody and that she alone could organize repayment. Magistrate Maxwell responded firmly, ordering her to pay the fine and leave the courtroom.
The case serves as a stark warning to anyone looking to invest in property through intermediaries. Authorities urge the public to verify credentials, demand official documentation, and avoid handing over large sums of cash without signed agreements.
Ncube’s actions have left Dube out of pocket and wary, highlighting how quickly trust can be exploited in the world of real estate deals.
The court has emphasized that scams of this nature are taken seriously and that restitution and penalties are essential to deter future offenders.
With the deadline for repayment looming, Bulawayo residents are watching closely to see if Ncube will make good on her obligations or face the full weight of the law.
