Premier warns fraudsters and impersonators who misuse people’s names for personal gain
Free State Premier, Hon. Ace Magashule has noted that on Thursday, 2 February 2017, the Bloemfonetin Magistrates Court sentenced Mr. Bongani Eugene Radebe to an effective 4 years for fraud and corruption involving the illegal misuse of the name of the Premier.
In December 2015, the Free State Provincial Government was alerted to an invitation doing the rounds in social media, inviting people to a seminar on the creation of “black industrialists”. The flyer claimed that Premier would be addressing the event.
According to the invitation, delegates were expected to pay R895 per delegate and R8 950 per table. The Premier and the provincial government at large was concerned that, if this is not brought to a halt, many of our people would be ripped off.
After determining that the Premier had not been invited to, and had no knowledge of the event, the provincial government then alerted the police suspecting that the invitation was a fake.
The law enforcement authorities investigated the matter and arrested Mr. Radebe in March 2016.
On the 02nd of February 2017, the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court found Mr. Radebe guilty on two charges of fraud, with one relating to the seminar mentioned above, and another relating to an Identity Document (ID) fraud matter.
The Premier and the Free State government seeks to send a stern warning on those who use the names and identities of leaders for personal gains to stop such activities. The Free State Provincial Government shall always work hard to accelerate radical socio-economic transformation for the benefit of all our citizens.
“I urge all South Africans in general, and the people of the Free State in particular, to avoid all initiatives that would lead them to be in conflict with the law. People must stop using my name, names of my family members, and names of any other government leaders, to defraud unsuspecting people and for personal benefits. We hope that Mr. Radebe will serve his term and return a better, rehabilitated person for the community” – Premier Magashule said.
Enquiries:
Tiisetso Makhele
Cell: 076 833 0033
