Four accused namely, Pulaetsile Albertina Phepheng (39), Chwaro April (40), Betty Mosala (40) and Barend Pretorius (50) made a brief appearance before Pampierstad Magistrates’ Court, 06 December 2023 facing charges of contravention of the National Credit Act 34 of 2005.
The accused were arrested earlier this morning in a multidisciplinary approach by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team, National Credit Regulator (NCR), Pampierstad Visible Policing and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).
Preliminary information alleged that suspects were running an unregistered micro cash loan businesses around Pampierstad. Suspects would retain clients’ bank cards, SASSA cards and identity documentation in order to enforce the credit agreement.
A search and seizure disruptive operation was conducted at the accused respective places of work. During the search, banking cards, SASSA cards, identity documentation and a combined cash to the total value of R400 956.00 were confiscated.
The accused were released on different bail that ranges from R3 000 to R10 000. Case against Mosala, Chwaro and Phepheng is postponed to 06 February 2024 and the case against Pretorius is postponed to 19 January 2024.
