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Andile Tshuma, Court Reporter
A Bulawayo woman (63) has been arraigned for allegedly conning her neighbour out of $500 after selling her a non-existent residential stand.
Maggie Mpofu of Emganwini suburb pleaded not guilty to fraud when she appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Stephen Ndhlovu, who remanded her out of custody to October 18.
Prosecuting, Mr Kenneth Shava said in May last year, Mpofu promised Ms Sibongile Matema (36) that she would help her acquire a residential stand as she was close friends with a councillor. “On May 1, 2015, the complainant approached the accused person in need of a residential stand.
The accused told the complainant that it was easy for her to get a stand as she was connected to a councillor.”
“The accused person was given $500 over five months by the complainant but nothing materialised from the agreement,” said Mr Shava.
The court heard that Ms Matema demanded receipts of payments from Mpofu, who failed to produce them.
She allegedly became suspicious and demanded to be shown the residential stand.
Mpofu, the court heard showed Ms Matema a corner stand in Emganwini and said it was the one she was paying towards.
Ms Matema approached the ward councillor for verification. Said Ms Matema: “I was shocked to discover that all along I had been tricked by Mpofu as there was never a stand for me.”
She took the matter to the residents’ association where Mpofu apologised and promised to pay back the money.
Mpofu failed to pay and Ms Matema filed a police report. — @andile_tshuma
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