PASTOR SCAMMED OUT OF R2,2M!

THE pastor had bedroom problems and went to a highly recommended traditional healer hoping to save his marriage.

But instead of getting help, he was tricked into a get-rich-quick scheme.

Now he is without a job – and has no pension!

The 61-year-old pastor from Magabheni at Umkomaas, on the KZN south coast told Daily Sun that he has lost everything he worked hard for over the years.

“I first visited the healer in August and he gave me oil. After two days he called me, but I had seen no change so he asked me to come back to his office in Durban’s city centre.

“He took me to a dark room where I could only hear the voices of three madalas claiming to be his forefathers,” said the pastor.

He said the invisible madalas asked him how much money he had in the bank, and he told them not much.

They instructed him to return the next day with a big empty bag. They filled it with money and gave him R700 as a gift, telling him to bring R600 the next day to be increased to R6 million.

“From the second bag they gave me R10 000. The money gifts seemed valid and made me trust them.

“On the third visit they told me they would increase the money to R24 million, but said I should retire from work and get my pension money so that bank officials wouldn’t get suspicious when I started depositing my millions.

“I did as instructed. When I got my pension payout they said I had to bring it to them for a protection prayer. The healer accompanied me to the bank on several occasions to withdraw the money.

“I never suspected that I wouldn’t see my money again,” said the pastor.

He said the bogus healer then left for Tanzania in January.

“I got hold of him last Thursday over the phone and he promised to give back my money but his phone has been off since and his office is now locked.”

His wife of 12 years said she was shocked that her husband had kept it secret from her.

“Life’s been tough since he stopped working. We have four young kids under the age of 10,” she said.

Major Thulani Zwane said a case of fraud was opened at the Durban Central cop shop, but no arrests have been made at this stage.