By Molefi Sompane
Sisa Pangeni
SASOLBURG – A conman is on the prowl in the Sasolburg area demanding R500 from desperate jobseekers in exchange for positions with the Metsimaholo Local Municipality (MLM).
Police have launched a manhunt for Sisa Pangeni, 46, who they believe has masqueraded as a municipal manager and conned people of hard-earned cash, causing the municipality to dissociate itself from the scam.
Municipal Communication Manager Gino Alberts told Public Eye on Tuesday, August 7 that Pangeni who also calls himself Lucas, Jack or Andile was not connected to the council. “We know nothing about this matter … I think the police will deal with it and bring the culprit to answer for what he has done. But we will also investigate the matter,” he said. Alberts warned residents about unscrupulous people who conjured up tricks like the one allegedly used by Pangeni to make easy money.
“If there is a post available at the municipality we advertise it. We are not selling jobs here, there is a procedure we follow when we open posts and there are interviews conducted. We know that people are looking for jobs but you don’t have to commit a crime to get a job.”
Police spokesperson Sergeant Sellwane Mapamela said a lot of people had allegedly been conned by Pangeni.
“In April 2011, Mr Pangeni told his victims that he was working for Metsimaholo Municipality as municipal manager. He told them that he will offer them jobs at the municipality after they deposited money into his account.
“The complainants deposited money into his bank account hoping that they will be employed. The suspect then disappeared with their money without a trace,” she said
Complainants identified him by the car he was driving. “He is apparently driving around in white VW Polo with registration number NPP 488 GP. A warrant for his arrest has been issued by the Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court and his last known address was house number 43 Tielmatroos Street in Vanderbijlpark.”
One of his victims said: “He was so polite and convincing that I deposited money into his account. I waited for him as he had warned me not to call him but to wait for him to do so. I kept waiting and got tired, it is then I decided to find out more about him at the municipality but there was no one by that name there.”
Pangeni was arrested in 2004 for passing off as a lawyer but skipped bail. Should anyone know where he is, they should contact Detective Constable Rethabile Chabangu of Sasolburg on: 016 973 2192 or 016 970 1031/2/3.