A Limpopo man is accusing popular Skeem Saam actor and former Thobela FM presenter Sebasa Mogale is of destroying his life after he allegedly swindled him of over R200 000. Sello Bonoko from Polokwane in Limpopo says that he lost his family and job after he lost the money to Mogale, who plays the part of Dr Hlongwane on Skeem Saam.
THE 'INVESTMENT'
Bonoko told ZiMoja that Mogale and his business partner and politician Mpho Dagada promised him great monthly returns if he invested money in their bitcoin company. He said he resigned from his job as a truck driver and used his pension fund to invest in their Mining City scheme in 2020. Mogale and his business partner, now a powerful politics with Rise SA, are both accused of swindling many of their clients of thousands of Rands during their operation where they advertised the scheme on Thobela FM. ZiMoja is in possession of the of the exchanged WhatsApp conversations between the two where Bonoko begs Mogale to refund him his money. In response, Mogale said he had explained in detail how the business worked and that the money did not go directly to him but the Mining City and advised Bonoko to email them instead.
'HE DESTROYED MY LIFE'
The fuming Bonoko said that he has tried but has been failed by the justice system after his matter was thrown out of court last year. "I have tried in vain to get my money back from those guys, but nothing is happening," he said. He said that since he could not get anything out of his investment, his marriage became strained because of financial problems as his wife was against him leaving his job in the first place. "I made a bad decision to invest in their business not knowing that that they were scamming me. The sad part is that my wife took my kids and left me. I'm now a divorcee because Sebasa promised me heaven and earth. He promised that I would make enough money to support my family. Did I make more money? I never did, I have found myself jobless, wifeless and penniless. I am depressed because of this. All I want is my back and for those responsible to go to jail because they scammed me," he said.
FIRED FROM THE SABC
Shortly after Carte Blanche expose on Mogale's cryptocurrency scandal, the SABC pulled him off air and later fired him. At the time, Thobela FM said that they were suspending him to afford him the opportunity to resolve his personal business dealings. "The station takes the welfare of its vulnerable listeners seriously and we will leave no stone unturned in investigating the matter,". More than a hundred people who lost money from Mogale's company also opened fraud cases against him. Bonoko said the South African law has failed him after he handed over all his documents to the investigating officer and nothing was done. I just need help to recoup my money, that's all. Limpopo Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe confirmed knowing about the matter. "We are aware about the matter that involves Bonoko and the former SABC radio presenter. The matter is not a simple one, but it is receiving the attention that it needs. We are constantly communicating with the complainant, he must learn to be patient with us," she said. Responding to the allegations through his lawyer Lesedi Mphahlele said: " Although Mr Mogale is keen to divulge his side of the story which is an accurate version of events, he is unfortunately contained by numerous factors from doing so, mostly because the matter is sub judice. "Any utterance may impose an undue prejudice. The initiator of the allegations is a wanted person by the law enforcement authorities. There are warrants of arrest to the effect," Mphahlele said.
