Pictured is the interior of the house a day after it was discovered 260 people had been scammed by a man pretending to work for the SANDF, they all paid the man a fee for transporting them to Pretoria but were then forced to live in a 3 bedroom house in Karenpark, 28 June 2017, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Hundreds of young hopefuls were delighted to have been saved from what they called “hell” after a man claiming to be recruiting them for the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) scammed them for months.
Petrus Ndaba, 55, who referred to himself as “General”, appeared before the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning on charges of theft under false pretences for housing close to 300 people in a four-bedroomed, rented house in Karenpark, Pretoria.
The former SANDF employee travelled to KwaZulu-Natal to recruit young unemployed men and women. He offered military training at an “army camp” in Pretoria.
However, he charged them for staying in a house he was renting, telling them to pay close to R1 000 for a military uniform and a further R150 per month for food.
The matter was postponed to next Wednesday for a formal bail application.
Kate Msomi, the owner of the house, was distraught when walking through her home yesterday, pointing out the dilapidated property, which was once a “beautiful entertainment home”.
“This man rented my house turned it into a mess. He failed to pay rent for the last three months,” she said.
“I’m happy he was caught. He must rot in hell,” said one of his victims, who wanted to remain anonymous. – rorisangk@citizen.co.za
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