By Theodorah Waga Mawasha
TZANEEN-In this fast-paced world, scores of people have become reliant on social media platforms to send out job applications from the comfort of their homes. Sadly, these spaces are hotspots for relentless criminals who are in pursuit of unsuspecting people who are lured under false pretences to dangerous environments and robbed of their belongings.
In a recent incident, a motorist rescued 3 victims aged 21,27, and 33 years, in the vicinity of Tzaneen, who were allegedly invited for non-existent job interviews in the town.
According to one of the victims who didn’t want to be named, the suspects allegedly posted the vacancies on Facebook and proceeded to invite her and two others to Tzaneen for interviews.
“I applied for the job and got positive feedback. A date was communicated to me for an interview scheduled to be conducted in Tzaneen town. I travelled to town and disembarked at a Caltex gas station. The suspects, all male, were waiting when I arrived with the other two victims. This is when I realized the other victims were given the same time as me for the interview. We were driven off. However, I became suspicious when the taxi went in the direction of Bolobedu “, She said.
“We were driven out into the bushes, where we were stripped naked and robbed of our belongings. The man who came for the interview with us was forced to rape the other lady”, she continued.
It is alleged that during the entire ordeal, pictures were sent out to family members in an attempt to extort money from them.
Limpopo province police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe condemned the crime and encouraged people to be wary of social media platforms when looking for jobs.
Tzaneen police have opened a case of rape, kidnapping, and robbery.
Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the perpetrators can contact Lieutenant Colonel Rodney Ndou on 082 807 2660 or use the crime stop number 0860 10 111.
