Victims reveal how they were swindled

A Free state teacher has revealed how she was swindled out of R400,000 by a notorious scammer who had been flagged for allegedly operating an illegal scheme promising huge returns on investments.

The 57-year-old deputy principal, who asked not to be named, is one of four women who fell prey to Simphiwe Manana's alleged illegal dealings. It is believed more than 18 other victims have been identified.

In May, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority warned the public about Manana's alleged illegal activities when conducting financial services business with him or his company, Pol Empire.

On Monday Manana appeared in the Pretoria magistrate's court charged with fraud relating to the case of the deputy principal after his arrest on Friday.

Two weeks ago, Manana's company topped the list of 40 untraceable companies the National Consumer Commission warmed the public against doing business with.

The deputy principal said between July 2023 and April this year, she gave Manana more than R400,000.

Out of that money, R200,000 was from her savings while the other R200,000 was a loan she took with a bank, she said.

"I never suspected anything until he disappeared and ignored my calls. Then I realised I am dealing with a scammer. I went to the internet and Googled him and saw the reviews were bad.

"I didn't know what to do or where to start and decided to open a case. I try to be strong but it is affecting me. In the beginning I thought I was going to lose my mind. I wanted to get something for my children after realising I will retire in a few years. I wanted to leave something for them if I die," she said.

The teacher said she started speaking to Manana in July last year.

"I had shares at the JSE (Johannesburg Stock Exchange) and he pretended to be an agent from the JSE and said he wanted to assist me with trading under the Pol Empire," the woman said.

"He knew everything about me, my full name, address and how my account was doing on the JSE. I was not interested in the account. I bought shares and sold them and  at some point I stopped trading. He knew I had stopped trading," the woman said.

"I was supposed to get monthly repayments, and later he indicated he was going to trade for me since I left the account. I would not have to do anything. I would get repayments at the end of each month, but I never got anything."

A nurse from Gauteng, who also asked not to be named, said she lost R99,000 in a month.

The woman said Manana had information that she had traded at the JSE and stopped in 2018.

"He said he helps people to benefit from the JSE and told me  he had assisted famous and high-ranking people. I was convinced," said the 49-year-old nurse.

She took out a loan the same month and Manana allegedly kept asking her to pay thousands until she lost close to R100,000. .

According to a source close to the investigations, in 2013 the first case against Manana over scam allegations was opened.

 "Several warrants of arrest were issued against him but they were not executed because he was on the run. The warrant that was successfully executed is the recent case where he convinced a 57-year-old to invest more than R400,000," said the source.

A victim from Vaal said after allegedly being scammed of R18,000 by Manana, she tried to open a case and police told her he was wanted for fraud.

"He drives the latest BMW,” said the woman.

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