A man who paid over half a million rand in papgeld for a non-existent child, had his former partner arrested for theft by false pretences.
The woman, Babongile Mkhonta, 35, from Makhonza in Eswatini, is accused of fraudulently receiving maintenance money from Sihle Ndlovu for a child that never existed.
According to the Swaziland News, Mkhonta, who is now married, said Ndlovu sent her money electronically and he did so voluntarily.
It was reported that Mkhonta received the papgeld for over five years - between 2019 and April 2024.
Ndlovu paid Mkhonta R5,000 a month for child maintenance and he was also made to pay for additional expenses which came to over R274,000.
Mkhonta was arrested after a lengthy investigation that began in March 2024.
Police established that there’s a child that Mkhonta showed to the Ndlovu family in 2022.
She was arrested on October 10, 2024, but released on condition that she brings the child to the Manzini Magistrate’s Court the next day, however, she failed to do so and she was rearrested.
During her bail application, Mkhonta said she intends to plead not guilty as she never “stole” the money Ndlovu.
“I also never made any representations to him that he must give me money for child support. The complainant is the one who would, on different occasions, voluntarily send money to me by electronic means, as we were in a relationship at that time,” Mkhonta was quoted as saying in court.
She reportedly told the Magistrate that she was sick and undergoing treatment in Durban.
IOL News