Elderly women in the community have been urged to be on high alert of a female scammer targeting widows, and drugging them with a high dose of sleeping tablets mixed with tumeric water before robbing them of their valuables and cash.
The woman, believed to be in her 30s, approaches her victims under false pretences, promising to give them grocery vouchers. One of her victims, 81-year-old Thanga Moodley from Campbells Town, told the Phoenix Tabloid that she was at her home when she heard someone calling her by name and opened the gate for them.
“I was at home with my helper, granddaughter and her four-year-old daughter when I heard someone calling out my name outside the gate. It was an Indian lady who had short hair, with a dark complexion. She said she wanted to pray for me and so I let her in,” said Moodley.
She said that once inside, the woman asked her granddaughter to leave as she had eaten meat and was not allowed to be in the same room with them during the prayer.
“She then told me to bring a cup of tumeric water, I brought everything, left it on the table and went back to the kitchen to do some other stuff. I believe she mixed the tumeric water with sleeping tablets while I was in the kitchen, before asking me to drink it,” said the pensioner.
Moodley said the concoction was extremely bitter but was forced to drink and finish everything that was in the cup. In the midst of their conversation, Moodley recalls the lady asking if she owned any gold jewellery items.
“After drinking the mixture, I felt weak, drowsy and wanted to vomit. I couldn’t move, talk or remember anything that happened after that,” she said.
Moodley was rushed to the Life Mount Edgecombe Hospital after the helper alerted family members to the incident. KZNVIP spokesperson, Gareth Naidoo, said that their members were dispatched to the home after the family called and requested immediate medical assistance.
“The suspect made-off with an undisclosed amount of goods and left the elderly female helpless on the ground. KZN VIP medics attended to the patient who was barely responsive and rushed her to a medical facility,” said Naidoo.
Another resident, Sheila Naidoo, 77, said that the lady in question also went to her house, calling her by name after drugging and robbing Moodley.
“She stood outside my gate and began calling me by name. I do not know how she knows our names as I had never seen this lady before. She told me that she was Mrs Moodley’s niece and that she was sent by Mrs Moodley to come to me as she was giving out grocery vouchers. She said that the vouchers were for elderly widowed women and began asking me if I know of other women that fit the criteria in the area. She then asked who was home with me and as soon as I told her that my son was home, she immediately left. I would have also been a victim if my son was not off from work that day,” said Naidoo.
Moodley’s daughter, Naveshni Mangoeng, said that the family is still reeling from shock as anything could have happened to her mum while drugged.
“What happened has shocked us as a family and as a community. My niece and brother witnessed the condition that mum was in when they got there. She couldn’t walk, talk or remember anyone. The extreme lengths that people would go to just to get quick cash or jewellery, even if it means putting another person’s life in danger, is absolutely shocking. This is really traumatic for us and especially my mum who had to stay at my brother’s place after the incident.”
Mangoeng said they are sharing their story to prevent another mother or grandmother from going through this trauma.
“We couldn’t stop it from happening to our mother but we will not sit by and not do anything to save someone else. We have to protect our elderly, they are vulnerable and defenceless. We are thankful to God that our mum is okay and in time with love and support she will heal physically and emotionally. We have full faith that justice will prevail and SAPS will prove to be successful in bringing the party responsible for this atrocious act to book,” said Mangoeng.
Captain Louise Naidoo of SAPS Phoenix confirmed that a case of theft has been opened with the Phoenix SAPS. She said that this was not the only case reported in one week.
“In a separate incident, money and jewellery was taken in the same scenario from another lady at the Phoenix Plaza after someone offered to pray for her. Criminals often gain entry into properties by playing on the sympathy and vulnerability of the elderly. Do not, under any circumstances whatsoever, allow strangers access to your property. There is a lot of crime that has happened and continues to occur once you allow a stranger into your home. Be wary of your surroundings and any suspicious behaviour and keep your burglar gates and doors locked at all times. We urge members of the public to contact the SAPS immediately if they feel threatened in any way or form.”
Chairperson of the Phoenix Community Police Forum Sector 2, Val Pillay said: “We have had many reported cases regarding a syndicate that is preying on the elderly and vulnerable folk. The modus operandi is to gain the trust of their victims by using family members names. We are appealing to all communities to please be on high alert as these women may strike again.”
Pillay urged members of the public to create street WhatsApp groups where they can put out an alert for assistance. “It is important to form street committees through your sector CPF. We are happy to assist you with the registration for the Community in Blue programme where vetted members can proceed with patrols and visibility on your roads. The community is advised to look out for each other and either call the SAPS or their local community police forum. The CPF urges the community to report and open up cases as we need to ensure that these unscrupulous and vile individuals are removed from our communities,” added Pillay.
