A FAKE traditional healer/herbalist based in uMhlanga is conning people out of hundreds of thousands of rands. The alleged con artist had promised victims that he could double their savings and investments, and has even convinced victims into believing he could help them with injuries, problematic relationships and financial problems in return for cash.
The man is believed to run his business on Herrwood Drive and the Durban North SAPS has is appealing to the public not to fall for the scam. This comes after a local couple, Nirvana and her husband Peru, were conned out of R1 000 by the healer. The healer is now harassing the couple for more than R50 000 so he can ‘secure’ their happiness and financial well-being.
“This is completely ludicrous and utterly ridiculous. People across the province have lost millions to these con men who claim they can solve any problem. If they could the world with be a happier place. I urge residents not to fall for these types of scams,” Lt Raymond Deokaran, spokesman for the Durban North SAPS said.
“A number of these healers operate out of uMhlanga and La Lucia and normally rent fancy houses to give the impression to victim’s that they are successful.”
He added the herbalist would then use strong arm tactics to try and extort more money out of his victims once they had refused to consult him anymore.
Pouring blood and slithering snakes
Local resident Nirvana said she contacted the herbalist after seeing his advert in a national paper promising a solution to all problems.
“The advert said there was no need for payment. My husband and I were facing personal problems and we decided to set up an appointment with the man. When we arrived at his house, it was bare, there was no furniture or any other items. A young lady met us at the door and ushered is in to a dark room, which had incense burning, statues, goblets and paintings of Indian deities.
“A man sitting on a throne like chair spoke to us in a polished accent and said he could solve our problems. He seemed to know alot about our lives and said we needed him. He took us outside and made me stand in a sand pit to leave my foot imprint. He then gathered the sand in a plastic packet and set fire to it. A blood like liquid began to pour from the packet and black smoke appeared at the top.
“I started to think that was far fetched but was drawn to his charisma and his reading of our situation. He asked for R1 000 to cure our problems and gave us bath oils to bathe in. We used them and two days later he asked to see us again,” she said.
When Nirvana and her husband returned, the con man asked them to bring a jar of coffee. He then placed it on the floor of the darkened consultation room and asked the couple to close their eyes.
“When we opened them, he took the lid off the jar and a snake slithered out of the top, below it were R100 and R200 notes which filled the jar. He said the snake represented an evil spirit and wanted to kill us. In order to ward the spirit off, we needed to pay him R56 000. We refused and he insisted something bad would happen to us.
“He keeps harassing us and demanding more money but I won’t go back to him. I can’t explain how he made a snake appear out of an unsealed jar I bought from the supermarket, and although I think the blood out of the packet was far fetched, I believe he has some evil power,” she said.
Nirvana added they would not visit another herbalist ever again.
