A kombi driver has told the Manzini Magistrate’s Court how he and his brother were allegedly duped out of E8 550 after being promised jobs as drivers for a prince’s child.
Nkosinathi Mavuso (36), of Ngwane Park, appeared before Magistrate Justice Mzizi facing two counts of theft by false pretences.
According to the charge sheet, Mavuso allegedly misrepresented to Mpendulo Myeni that he could secure him employment as a driver for a prince, inducing him to part with E4 500 in January this year.
The crown further alleged that Mavuso similarly convinced Siyabonga Makama to pay E4 050 after promising to secure him the same job post.
The prosecution alleged that Mavuso knew the representations were false and unlawfully obtained the money from the complainants.
Testifying before court, Myeni said he and his brother were approached by the accused, who claimed he was in a position to secure employment for them.
He told the court that Mavuso introduced himself as someone working at the King’s Office and said the jobs could be secured if they paid the required amounts.
Myeni said he and his brother managed to raise the money and handed it over, believing the employment offer was genuine.
He further testified that after receiving the initial payment, Mavuso allegedly demanded an additional E285, claiming it was needed to obtain a code that would generate an employment number required before they could start work.
However, Myeni said the promised jobs never materialised.
Instead, he alleged, Mavuso continued requesting more money under different pretexts, prompting him to become suspicious.
He said he eventually demanded a refund after realising he had been misled.
According to Myeni, repeated attempts to contact Mavuso proved unsuccessful, as his calls went unanswered and text messages received no response.
He told the court that he and his brother eventually decided to wait for the accused at his home.
When they confronted him, Myeni alleged that Mavuso admitted owing them money and undertook to reimburse them.
He said the accused maintained that delays had been caused by people he was allegedly working with, but promised to refund the money from his own resources.
Myeni testified that Mavuso told them he intended to obtain a loan from Hlalawati, a savings scheme for members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force, in order to repay them.
The matter was subsequently reported to Manzini Police Station.
Myeni told the court that of the money allegedly taken from them, Mavuso had repaid E2 600, which was handed over to the police.
Proceedings, however, took an unexpected turn before cross-examination when Mavuso informed the court that he wished to be represented by a lawyer.
Magistrate Mzizi subsequently postponed the matter to next Tuesday to allow the accused to secure legal representation.
