Yvonne scammed
SMOOTH CON-ARTIST WALKS OFF WITH R150 K
‘ She said ... people were delaying the release of her R100m ’
PRINCESS of Africa Yvonne Chaka Chaka has been swindled of a cool R150 000, allegedly by a high-flying Limpopo “con artist” Alfridah Kgabo Matse.
In her smooth and fictitious presentations to would-be victims, Matse allegedly claims to be working with former Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni.
But Mboweni, who is now board chairman of AngloGold Ashanti, denies knowing the seemingly slippery woman.
Those who’ve crossed paths with Matse say she also allegedly conned Mboweni ’ s cousin of R250 000 after the governor introduced her to the unsuspecting relative.
These startling tidbits emerged when our mole saw the Polokwane sheriff of the court paying Matse a surprise visit at her Bendor suburb house last month to serve her with a summons from Chaka Chaka’s lawyers – but found the house yawning.
“When we asked why they were looking for her, they told me she had vanished with Yvonne’s money,” says the neighbour, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals.
Chaka Chaka confirms that Matse crooked her out of R150 000 and that she has taken legal action against her.
She says Matse first pestered her to be her mentor. After wiggling her way into her confidence, Matse implored Chaka Chaka to loan her money.
“Last year when I was in Polokwane on a business trip, she came to my hotel room with two children and said she was running a printing company.
“She said she couldn’t pay her staff or her kids’ school fees as people were delaying the release of R100m she inherited from her deceased parents. She further claimed her parents had owned interests in the mining sector.
“She said she was waiting for Tito, who has power of attorney for her, to authorise the money,” says Chaka Chaka.
She asked Chaka Chaka to lend her R150 000 and promised to pay it back with R200 000 interest.
“She showed me a letter with a Nedbank letterhead saying the money would be trans- ferred into her account within a few days.”
Chaka Chaka says former Limpopo MEC for Health Charlie Sekwati also called her and asked her to loan Matse the money as she was in financial doldrums.
“I then went to the bank and transferred the money into her account. But I told her I didn’t need the extra cash she promised me. All I wanted was for her to give back my R150 000 once she was sorted as I was doing this out of the goodness of my heart.”
She says Matse phoned her later and asked her to organise TV journalists and celebrities as she was throwing a huge birthday party for herself in Polokwane.
” I told her I wanted my money first but she told me not to worry as she had enough money to buy me.
“I sent Penny Lebyane and Thuli Thabethe there. After the party she phoned me and bragged that she’d paid Generations actress Sophie Ndaba-Harrington R300 000 for organising her birthday party and thousands of rands to Penny and Thuli as appearance fees.
“I told her I wanted my money and wasn ’ t prepared to listen to nonsense,” she explains.
Nbaba-Harrington confirms that she was paid to organise the party.
Chaka Chaka says that out of desperation, she phoned Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa for advice.
“Mthethwa phoned me later and asked me to take legal action against her, which I did.
“But what surprised me was when Matse phoned me and asked me why I phoned Mthethwa to arrest her. “She said to me ‘ you send Nathi to arrest me. He can’t do anything to me. I’m not scared of him’.”
Sekwati, who is now a member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature, tells Sunday World:
“I know Matse. I thought she was a real person as she said she was close to Tito.
“I have to help Yvonne track her down so she can refund her.”
Chaka Chaka’s lawyer David Feldman says: “I don’t comment on any matter in my of fice.”
AngloGold Ashanti spokesperson Alan Fine says: “Mr Mboweni says he has no power of attorney and knows nothing about this matter.”
Mthethwa could not be reached for comment and did not respond to messages. malatjin@sundayworld.co.za SMS S1 and your comments to 32467. SMSes are charged at R1 each.