One of seven accused in R14 million romance fraud released on bail
One of seven people accused of romance fraud was released on R20,000 bail this week, as the group is expected to return to the dock again next week at the Muizenberg Magistrate’s Court.
The group faces charges of fraud and money laundering after defrauding an elderly woman of about R14 million after luring her through a religious dating site.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed that the case against Sikelelwa Nqunu, Asanda Dwesini, Nomphelo Fatman, Brazil Hendricks, Shan Lewis, Lavinia Oppel, and Chibuzor Silver has been postponed to August 4, 2026.
On Wednesday, Fatman was granted bail of R20,000 and instructed to sign at the Lwandle police station.
The legal representative of Nqunu and Silver withdrew on record and the case was postponed for Legal Aid to come on record.
Lewis and Oppel were granted bail during a previous appearance, while Hendricks and Dwesini had abandoned their right to apply for bail.
Ntabazalila said: “The State alleges that a widow registered herself on a Christian dating site. She received a response from a person who identified himself as Ael Alzondo, a white male who was born in Italy and was in the construction business. He communicated with her using different cellphone numbers.
“He then sent her fake photos indicating that it was him. After making her believe that he was a businessman, he then started to tell her about the problems he was encountering in his business.
“He claimed to have a construction project in Luanda facing issues, and he was flying to Luanda to fix it. He then fabricated stories about being captured by locals, his belongings being taken, and that he had to pay money to the chief for the work that he was doing there.
“He requested money from her with the promise that he would pay her once the project had been finalised. She believed him, and he directed her to pay money into bank accounts held by Sikelelwa Nqunu, Asanda Dwesini, Nompumelelo Fatman, Brazil Hendricks, Shan Lewis, Lavinia Oppel, and Cynthia Okkers.”
It is the State’s case that once the monies were deposited, large withdrawals were made, some transferred to other accounts, which included the account held by Silver, and some of the money would be used for personal benefit.
The misrepresentations took place between July 2017 and October 2022, and during that period, the woman had deposited R14,038,500 into the various bank accounts.
