DURBAN – A 66-year-old grandmother from Isipingo, Durban, has been left heartbroken and penniless after a romantic encounter turned into a theft ordeal.
The pensioner, seeking companionship, connected with a 54-year-old man from Chatsworth on the dating website Badoo, only to be robbed of her monthly SASSA grant and her mobile phone.
According to Prem Balram, head of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the woman's quest for love took a devastating turn on Wednesday. "The couple went to Galleria Mall in Amanzimtoti to draw her monthly SASSA grant of R2,000," Balram explained. "They then drove to Hazelmere Dam in Verulam."
The pair spent approximately three hours at the dam before the suspect drove her to a garage, ostensibly to freshen up. It was at this point that the situation took a sinister turn.
"The suspect then sped off with her bag, R2,000 in cash and her mobile phone," Balram stated. Adding insult to injury, the suspect then deleted his profile on Badoo, severing all online traces of the ill-fated romance.
The victim and her family, distraught and seeking justice, approached RUSA for assistance. Following an investigation, the suspect's vehicle was traced to Montford in Chatsworth, leading authorities to his doorstep.
"The suspect was arrested in his bedroom. He is living with his mother," Balram confirmed.
In a shocking twist, Balram revealed the suspect's motive for the theft. According to him, the pensioner had become "demanding for financial assistance" after the couple had "engaged in sexual intercourse" at Hazelmere Dam.
Driven by a desire to escape the financial pressure, the suspect allegedly made off with her belongings. However, his luck was short-lived.
"After fleeing he drove to Sibaya Casino and lost R1,600 at the slot machines," Balram disclosed. Adding a bizarre detail to the already strange case, "He used R400 of the stolen money to purchase engine oil for his vehicle."
The incident has sparked outrage and concern, highlighting the vulnerability of pensioners and the dangers of online dating. The victim, who remains unnamed, is now grappling with the loss of her much-needed SASSA grant, a lifeline for many elderly South Africans.
A case of theft has been opened at Verulam SAPS, and the police have been approached for comment regarding the suspect's expected court appearance.
