Free lunch for ‘preacher’

At least half-a-dozen Mpumalanga restaurants have banned a man who claims to be a preacher because he allegedly eats then refuses to pay.

He has apparently done this at the Midwater Spur in Aerorand and the Middelburg Dros, among other eateries, the Middelburg Observer reports.

Bramley Zwane of Mhluzi was forced to sign over his cellphone at the Midwater Spur under the supervision of the police last Friday when he could not pay a bill of R171.80.

Yvonne Mahlangu, Buffalo Lake Spur manager, said Zwane ordered a steak and a large Coke. When he had finished the meal he told the waiter he was unable to pay. “He produced a PEP card. He then entered a pin number and started laughing,” said Mahlangu.

That was when management called the police. “He said he was going to Nando’s after he left us. He targets places where you eat first then pay,” she said.

Zwane also tried to “con” the Dros on Friday and Saturday. According to a statement by Andre Oberholzer from the Dros, Zwane returned the next day and ordered breakfast. Then he said he had no money. “He handed me a bill from Buffalo Lake Spur and said he did not pay there and would not pay here,” Oberholzer stated. They got Mid-Alarms to take Zwane to the police. – Caxton News Service