Four suspects who were allegedly running unregistered micro-cash loan businesses around Pampierstad in the Northern Cape, were arrested this week and all four are facing charges on the contravention of the National Credit Act.
The four accused, Pulaetsile Albertina Phepheng (39), Chwaro April (40), Betty Mosala (40) and Barend Pretorius (50), made a brief appearance before the Pampierstad Magistrates Court after their arrest on Wednesday, 6 December.
Preliminary information alleged that the accused would retain clients’ bank and South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) cards, as well as identity documents to enforce the credit agreement.
During the search and seizure operations conducted at the suspects’ respective places of work, bank and Sassa cards, identity documents and cash to the total value of R400 956 were confiscated, said provincial Hawks spokesperson, WO Nomthandazo Mnisi.
They were arrested in a multidisciplinary approach by members of the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team, National Credit Regulator (NCR), Pampierstad Visible Policing, and Sassa.
The accused were released on bail that ranges from R3 000 to R10 000. The cases against Mosala, Chwaro and Phepheng were postponed to 6 February and the case against Pretorius to 19 January.
