Mom, 83, claims nest-egg plundered

A retired Eastern Cape teacher wants justice after being told her eldest son and his wife allegedly siphoned more than R1.5m from her pension funds over eight years.

Mavis Koyana, 83, from Mdolomba village near Mount Coke has opened a fraud case and a protection order against Vuyolwethu Koyana and his wife Lindelwa, who were nominated by the Koyana family to take care of her affairs.

Koyana said the pair must face the music if they are unable to come up with cash to pay her back.

She alleges the couple misused her money by taking up bank loans, cellphone contracts, insurance policies, and stealing more than R1m over the years.

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci confirmed police were investigating two cases which include contravening of a protection order and fraud.

Koyana’s youngest son, Sanga, estimated that over R1.5m had been stolen between 2011 and August 2018 from their mother’s account, money meant to provide for their diabetic parent.

After their father, Benjamin, a retired policeman, died in 2010, Koyana met with her children [Babalwa, Sanga, Vuyolwethu, Nomathamsanqa and Lindelwa] to discuss how best to manage her physical and financial resources.

It was decided then that Vuyolwethu and Lindelwa would manage all her financial affairs.

When the Dispatch contacted Vuyolwethu on Monday morning he asked for a little time before saying: “Please call me in 20 minutes, I’m busy with something right now.”

However, he has not responded since then after two more attempts to call him and a text message.

Lindelwa said: “Whoever gave you my number is crazy. I’m busy, don’t call me,” before she cut off the connection.