Loan sharks appear in court for contravening the National Credit Act
The police have seized 18 Sassa and 19 bank cards with pin codes from suspected loan sharks at Salubinza Trust and Mahushu.
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Zelda Kandabile (33), Sibusiso Nyundu(36) and Baby Miko (41) appeared before KaBokweni Magistrate Court on Thursday November 18 after they were arrested by members of the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team Mpumalanga together with members of the National Credit Regulators on November 17 for Contravening Section 133 of the National Credit Act, Act 34 of 2005.
The accused were granted R1 500 bail each, and the case was referred to Masoyi Magistrate Court to be heard on December 14.
According to Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson, Capt Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, said the joint team acted on information about people who ran illegal cash loans companies.
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“These two businesses that were allegedly not registered with the National Credit Regulator, kept these bank and Sassa cards of clients to secure payments. “A search-and-seizure operation was executed on both premises where these illegal activities had taken place. The team seized these cards as well as registers. Subsequently the accused were arrested,” said Sekgotodi.
The provincial head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga, Maj Gen Zodwa Mokoena warned people who borrowed money from loan sharks, to refrain from doing so.
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“If people make use of illegal loan sharks, they are putting their lives at risk, as they pay far more interest than they should and may be subjected to harassment or threats when they get behind with their payments.”