Hunt for alleged conman herbalist

A BOGUS traditional herbalist allegedly conned a man, 52, out of almost half a million rand, Free State police said yesterday. Spokeswoman Molebogeng Lechesa said Welkom police were investigating a theft case after a man from Masilo in Theunissen reported that he was conned out of his home and pension by a bogus herbalist and his accomplice. “The man had visited the person, who calls himself Dr Mama, in Bok Street, Welkom, where he paid R250 and was given a potion to drink.” A week later, Mama asked the man to come see him again and he went with his wife. They paid R50 for two bottles of liquor and for the consultation. They were told to bring 5kg of soil from their home, said Lechesa. Four days later, they returned to Mama, who told them that he and his wife would receive R10m and R4m respectively, but first the husband had to resign from work. He quit his job and withdrew all his money – R345 640 – in December last year and gave it to Mama. Later, when he tried to contact Mama, the phone was answered by someone called Badimo. The person advised him to sell his house for R150 000 and give the money to Mama, which the victim did. He began to realise he had been conned only when he couldn’t get hold of Mama. The two men, aged between 28 and 35, are believed to be from Nigeria and Malawi. Welkom police have appealed to the public to contact them if they have any information on their whereabouts. – ANA