Somerset West Magistrates’ Court saw the brief appearance of Jonathan Daffue (32) on Thursday 13 February, after he allegedly defrauded a local golf club of more than R17 000.
At the hearing the prosecution opposed bail, citing his previous conviction. The court ruled that a formal bail application would be heard on Friday 21 February.
According to the Somerset West police, between Tuesday 8 and Friday 11 August 2023, Daffue made fraudulent bookings at a golf club in Somerset West for a group. He made two payments, totalling R17 394, both transactions later found to be fraudulent.
This, however, was not Daffue’s first involvement in criminal activity. Specialised Security Services (SSS), a private investigation firm specialising in cybercrime, serious violent crimes and economic crime, revealed it was first alerted to Daffue’s crimes when hired to investigate a fraud case worth R1,2 million. Its client was allegedly scammed by Daffue in a false cattle sale in George.
“The client was manipulated into paying the money,” said Kobus Neethling, SSS special investigator of serious economic and violent crimes.
Spokesperson for the Western Cape police, Sergeant Wesley Twigg, confirmed a fraud case against Daffue had been opened by the George police.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation,” said Twigg.
The firm assisted its client in opening a fraud complaint with George police and began monitoring Daffue. Neethling received a tip-off from a journalist after SSS used its national social platforms to gather leads, which allegedly led to Daffue being found in Pretoria.
“Garsfontein police executed a warrant of arrest after it was released by George Police Station,” said Captain Johan van Dyk, police spokesperson for the District of Tshwane in Gauteng.
According to Neethling, after Daffue’s arrest other alleged victims came forward with similar cases against him.
“The fraud case in Somerset West was one such incident,” he said. “Others even contacted SSS directly to assist with their cases.”
DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette reached out to the golf club, but was informed it was under a new management and had provided all relevant information to law-enforcement authorities. It declined to comment further.
