WHEN Winnile Ximbe’s husband got a retrenchment package from work, she thought their lives would change for the better.
However, everything got worse and she’s now fearing for her life.
The 53-year-old, originally from KZN and now living in a hostel in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, said she and her husband, Ishmael, were scammed twice. Winnile said when Ishmael received his money in 2018, they had planned to buy a home and start a taxi business.
Her cousin then offered to sell them a two-roomed house for R200 000.
“We paid her R200 000 and built rooms in the yard to rent out but when the time came to move, she told us the house did not belong to her and promised to refund us. When we asked her about the rooms in the yard, she told us we would have to take it up with the owner.”
Winnile said it was difficult to pursue the matter as there were no written agreements.
She said they then found a taxi to buy but after paying R80 000, they found out it belonged to a dead man and they couldn’t transfer ownership.
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“Realising I was being scammed again, I went to the police but they refused to help me. Instead, they alerted the man who sold the taxi,” she said.
Winnile said she was warned to stop talking to the police about the taxi and was left fearing for her life.
“Because the taxi is not in my name, it was impounded and I was later told it was stripped. We are now stuck in this hostel with no proper home or business to get us by,” she added.
Winnile’s cousin Bonokwakhe Buthelezi said the agreement was to sell the house, not the yard.
“I only owe her R35 000. I’ve given her the rest,” she said.
Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said a case of theft was opened at Dawn Park, but later transferred to Benoni Police Station.
