The bail application for alleged serial fraudster Jonathan Daffue was postponed on Friday 21 February, to allow Somerset West police to confirm his residence and the circumstances of his arrest.
Somerset West police are opposing bail. The investigating officer, Warrant Officer Andry Lottering testified he believed Daffue would be a flight risk.
“There is an influx of fraud cases everywhere,” he said. “Businesses are losing money, leading to people losing their jobs because fraudsters manipulate their position.”
The court heard that Daffue booked the session under an alias but used his real name for security check-in, which police later verified.
Daffue is accused of defrauding a local golf club of more than R17 000 after booking a golf session for a group of friends. He allegedly made two separate payments, both of which were later found to be fraudulent.
Daffue’s lawyer submitted an affidavit stating why he believed he should be granted bail. In the affidavit he claimed he would not interfere with the police investigation, that he was not a flight risk and was not in possession of a passport.
“I would like to resume my employment, which I had to stop due to this case,” Daffue’s lawyer read from the affidavit. “In the event the court grants me bail I will endeavour to pay an amount of R1 300.”
Lottering stated he contacted Daffue’s mother as well as the friends who had accompanied him to the golf club. He also instructed Daffue’s mother to inform her son to make contact with the police, but the accused failed to do so. This, he believes, confirmed that Daffue was aware the authorities were looking for him.
Lottering testified that after Daffue’s arrest his criminal profile indicated he resided at 31 Circle Road in Sunridge. However, when Lottering visited the address the house was vacant.
Daffue also provided an alternative address, 164 Briza Road, Table View. Lottering claimed he had also visited this property but was informed the accused no longer resided there. The defence argued that the property belonged to Daffue’s mother, but Lottering disputed this.
“Your Worship, I know who I spoke to, and it wasn’t his mother,” he said.
As part of his affidavit, Daffue also listed a third address in Erica Road, Bloubergstrand. Lottering stated he was unaware of this address.
Questioned by magistrate Martin Snygans, Lottering admitted he could not confirm where Daffue currently resided. The court then instructed him to verify the accused’s address by Tuesday (25 February).
Magistrate Snygans also questioned Lottering about Daffue’s connection to Garsfontein, Pretoria, where he was arrested on Tuesday 28 January (previously reported as Friday 24 January). Lottering stated he was unaware of any links to the place he may have, speculating he may have been working on a family farm in Boshof, a small town between Kimberley and Bloemfontein.
“Boshof and Garsfontein are very important for the court in making a decision in the interests of justice,” the magistrate noted.
The court also questioned why Daffue had been arrested in Garsfontein, but released in George. The magistrate was particularly interested in why an arrest warrant from Somerset West had been executed in George.
Lottering explained that the case against Daffue had been opened in 2023. While the investigation was ongoing a warrant of arrest was issued in Somerset West. A second fraud case against the accused, valued at R1,4 million, was later opened in George, followed by a third case in Mossel Bay, to the tune of R9 000.
“It was only once we had communicated with each other that things fell into place,” said Lottering.
Daffue could be seen shaking his head in disagreement with the officer’s testimony.
Lottering further testified that George police had also issued a warrant for Daffue’s arrest. This was executed in Garsfontein, and he was transported to George to appear in court on charges of fraud on Wednesday 5 February.
“He was released on a technicality because the prosecution missed the subpoena during the hearing,” explained Lottering.
Daffue was rearrested later that same day on Somerset West’s warrant while allegedly attempting to board a bus back to Pretoria.
“That’s a lie,” Daffue’s mother muttered under her breath, visibly distraught throughout the hearing.
Lottering cited this as another reason why bail should be denied.
The prosecution asked whether Lottering could obtain certified copies of documents from other police stations related to Daffue’s other cases. He indicated that he believed his colleagues would not oppose providing the necessary documentation by Tuesday.
Lottering also stated that Daffue was in possession of a passport but could not say where it was currently located. “My client says that he is in possession of a passport, but it expired in 2024,” Daffue’s defence responded.
Lottering said he would need to verify this claim.
With multiple fraud cases linked to Daffue and uncertainty over his whereabouts, the court ordered further investigation before considering his bail application on 27 February. “This is your homework for the weekend,” he told Lottering.
Turning to the accused, the magistrate said: “As you hear, the court needs this information to make a judgment. This could work in your favour or against you.”
