Hawks spokesperson for the Free State, Christoper Singo, says in a statement the suspect, Ishmael Fihla, made his first court appearance on 3 January 2022.

Singo says the suspect’s court appearance comes after “the victim” approached the offices of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation in Bloemfontein, and reported that Fihla had promised to secure a job for him at a local municipality in Bloemfontein in exchange for money.

Fihla was arrested in a sting operation on 31 August 2021 after R3 000 in cash was recovered from his possession. 

The case against Fihla has been remanded to the said date for a formal bail application.

READ: Mangaung Metro warns against job scam

OFM News previously reported that the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality issued a warning against a scam in which desperate job seekers are being deceived into paying a fee for their job application to be considered and processed.

The metro’s spokesperson, Qondile Khedama, says the fraudsters are impersonating existing Mangaung Metro personnel/officials in the city and soliciting funds from the unsuspecting job seekers.

OFM News