A scheme has left hundreds of South Durban churchgoers drained of millions of rands and the fraudster is on the run.

More than 400 residents from Wentworth, Isipingo, Merebank and surrounding areas have lost an estimated amount of R38 million. The man whose name is known to Southern Star is now on the run from investors and the police, after he architected the scheme.

The con artist who is on run has tried to justify his actions and he admitted that he has gone into hiding because he feared for his life. In Durban the scheme was being run through one of his additional companies operated by a Wentworth pastor and his wife.

The scheme was called "upliftment for Christians" and church leaders had opened their doors to presentations on the investment. It called on the faithful to invest voluntarily and promising returns of up to four times their investment in a period of three months.

Anton Whitebooi, from Wentworth said that he gave a cheque in order to invest in his future. "I want my money back", he said. In Wentworth, people in the hierarchy of these pyramids, mostly church leaders, have made millions of rands from the scheme over the past few months, causing many more to invest their hard-earned money in the hope of also making a ‘quick buck’.
According to a pastor who wanted to remain anonymous said, "One pastor in the community has bought a house worth R1.3 million for cash, a BMW 330ci and VW Golf GTI for his son and his wife drives a Volvo S40".

Another person who declined to be named invested R13 000 and got back R40 000 after three months. He then reinvested R52 000, hoping to get back more than R200 000 by the end of May, but has not yet received anything so far. It is unlikely he will get anything.

KZN police spokesman, Superintendent Vincent Mdunge said that they were aware of the schemes. "We talk about these things on public radio stations and newspapers but people still become victims and are easily tempted."

He said in many cases church leaders knew exactly what they were doing when introducing these schemes.

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