POLOKWANE – Social media groups are usually helpful in finding resources and when Sam Maepa joined a local home builders group, he was excited at the prospect of exchanging resources and contacts with other group members for the completion of a double-storey house he was building for his parents.
On the group, he saw an advertisement placed by Kganthi Mahlakwana of MKP Trading Enterprise and approached the company for a quotation for concrete rib slabs.
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Months later Maepa says he regrets this decision after the realisation that he and four other people had been scammed out of almost R300 000.
“I visited their premises in Mankweng, and they travelled to Steelport where I am building the house to take the necessary measurements. I was quoted close to R58 000 which included the material, transportation, installation and an engineering certificate. The owner and I agreed that payment would be done in three parts, and I paid R5 000 in October last year for them to start manufacturing the material.”
Maepa says he was informed in December that the material was ready, after which he paid R35 000 for delivery and installation. “After I paid, I was told that I needed to pay an additional R3 500 to reach the 75% minimum deposit of the quote in order to proceed.
But, says Maepa, after payment was made he was faced with one problem after the next. “The owner would not answer my calls and when he did answer, I got excuse after excuse and heard about his challenges. I understood that, but when he could not provide me with a way forward, I became worried.”
“I spent Christmas and New Year worried about whether I had been scammed or not. It is painful to have someone take your hard-earned money without batting an eyelid. This was a house I had promised my parents and now “I couldn’t fulfil that promise.”
Maepa says he is yet to hear any good news from MKP Trading Enterprise, which prompted him to pursue a civil case. The police in Mecklenburg have confirmed that they are investigating a case of fraud.
“I went back onto the group and I detailed my experiences with Mahlakwana. I found out that there were many other people who had also been scammed. At first I thought I was just unfortunate but with every victim I engaged with, I realised that this was just an elaborate scam with builders at the centre. I encourage anyone who has been a victim to come forward and pursue a case.”
BONUS spoke to the four other victims. Two had opened cases with the police at the Mecklenburg and Mankweng police stations, both of which were confirmed by officials at the stations.
One of the persons tells BONUS that he only intended to pursue a civil case in order to recover his money but would do that after the project was completed. He says he was fortunate enough to have had other money available to complete the project.
The fourth victim opted not comment but confirmed that she had also been scammed and was seeking legal advice.
Mahlakwana referred BONUS to his legal representative, Sammy Seleka of SS Attorneys for comment on the matter.
“We confirm that we act on behalf of our client and we will receive further instructions relating (to) the allegations. At this stage we do not have any comment relating (to) the allegations. Our client is unaware of any cases opened against him and would not be able to comment at this moment,” he says.
