Meeting ends up in a police station

Mbuyane was meeting the advertising clients at a fast food outlet in a shopping centre in Highlands North. “As I arrived I noticed several police vehicles in the parking lot. Two of the vehicles came to park close to where we were seated,” he said.

The police were allegedly not wearing uniform, “They approached and asked, ‘What illegal activity is going on here?’ So I explained why I was there, to meet clients,” said Mbuyane.

He added that the police proceeded to search the clients he was meeting with and found bank statements, proof of payments and several ID and passport copies.

Mbuyane said the police asked everyone to pack up and go to the police station. “Initially I was told I can go, but another policeman said I must follow them to the station.”

He said when they arrived at the Sandringham police station “they took my details and one of the policemen told me the clients had confessed on their way to the station that they have been using the paper [North Eastern Tribune] to get clients and rob them of their money”.

Mbuyane was shocked by this information. “I don’t know if these herbalists are legitimate, fake or they just wanted money,” he said.

Caxton advises readers to be cautious when responding to adverts. It remains the responsibility of the consumer to verify the credentials of all advertisers they do business with.