‘Fraud officers not around’: Teen defrauded of R50,000 in Vecco Lupa scam says Cape Town police won’t open her case

A 19-year-old Cape Town girl who lost R50,000 in an alleged international jobs scam has accused police at SAPS Belhar of refusing to open a fraud case against Zimbabwean national Evans Sivechere, also known as Vecco Lupa — the self-styled migration consultant arrested in Botswana last week.

Susan, originally from Zimbabwe but living in Cape Town for the past seven years, asked that only her first name be used to protect her identity. She said she has been trying since 1 November to open a case but has been repeatedly turned away.

“I don’t have a case number,” she told IOL in an interview. “The police officers kept telling me to come back next time because they say the officers who deal with fraud cases are not available.”

She said she left her contact details several times at the police station. 

“They said they would call me when the detective is available so I wouldn’t keep coming back.”

On Tuesday evening she went again, only to be told to return the next morning. 

“It’s the fourth time I’ve tried to open my case,” she said. She said the officer who spoke to her on Tuesday evening was a Constable Leboto.

All her attempts have been at SAPS Belhar police station.

Girl saved for four years before losing everything

Susan said the R50,000 she paid Sivechere represented years of sacrifice and saving.

“I started raising money in 2020,” she said. “I grew vegetables in my garden and sold them, and I did hair and makeup. That gave me R17,000.”

In 2023, while in her second year of college, she worked part-time at a construction company in Woodstock and saved another R19,000.

After completing college in November 2024, she worked at an automotive company for six months and saved R16,000.

“All of that added up to the R50,000 I paid him,” she said.

‘Fake permit riddled with mistakes’

Susan said she began the overseas application process in February, after Sivechere told her he could secure a job for her in Hungary within two months.

“After three months, in May, he texted me saying my Hungary permit was out and that I must pay the balance,” she said. 

Susan paid, but when she visited the company’s office she was told the permit was not ready.

She said she was then persuaded to switch to Serbia because the process was allegedly “easier”.

“After a few weeks they sent me a permit full of mistakes,” she said. She then paid the Serbia processing fee and the visa fee — bringing her payments to R50,000.

She later discovered that no visa application had been submitted.

“That’s when I phoned the Serbia embassy,” she said. “They told me they haven’t issued visas for Southern Africans since 2024. Hungary hasn’t taken Africans since 2024.”

When she asked for her money back, she said Sivechere refused.

Botswana arrest sparks anger among SA victims

Sivechere, who flaunted a glamorous lifestyle on social media under the name Vecco Lupa, was arrested at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Botswana last week. 

The Botswana Police Service says in that country he defrauded at least 11 people of more than P240,000 (about R330,000) and expect more charges as additional complainants come forward.

Victims in South Africa, including Susan, say he operated openly in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Polokwane and Cape Town, even while people were trying to report him to police.

Multiple complainants told IOL they were dismissed, told to return later or told their matters were “civil disputes”, despite presenting what they believed were fake permits, receipts and WhatsApp evidence.

SAPS contacted for comment

IOL has sent queries to SAPS, including Susan’s allegations about repeated failed attempts to open a case at Belhar police station.

The story will be updated once SAPS responds. 

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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