Sasolburg residents have been warned to avoid scammers making use of the Metsimaholo municipal manager’s name to solicit money.

A notice has been posted by Metsimaholo about scammers who are making phone calls to people while impersonating Basi Motloung promising the municipality will give them tenders in exchange for money.

They have even gone as far as getting a cell phone number that will be picked up with his name for these fraudulent activities.

‘Municipality will never ask for money in return for tenders’

Residents are advised to be aware when receiving these calls as the municipality will never ask for money in return for tenders, no municipal worker is allowed to ask for money in exchange of services rendered or any work done for the municipality, and in the case of this happening, residents are urged to contact the police immediately.

This is not the first time we have seen scammers make use of municipal employee's positions as a way to fraudulently get money from members of the community.  Scammers have tried to get away with this in the Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality in the Free State two years ago.

An occurrence similar to this has happened more recently in Vanderbijlpark as well. In April a man dressed up as a municipal worker asking people for petrol money to fetch his child and not taking no for an answer, until residents have called the police.

Members of the public are urged to be vigilant, cautious and aware by verifying information with callers to avoid falling victim to these crimes. The police are investigating the calls and on the case to find these scammers in the Metsimaholo Municipality.

OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony dg