Sebasa Mogale, a former SABC radio presenter and actor known for his role in Skeem Saam, and his wife Dorah Mogale have been granted bail of R10,000 each. This development comes in light of allegations of fraud associated with a Bitcoin scheme promoted on radio.
The couple made a brief appearance before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court yesterday, where they were granted bail. The court has postponed the case to mid-May for further investigation.
Radio Advertises Scam
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS), disclosed that investigations revealed Sebasa Mogale’s involvement in promoting a scam known as “Mining City” on the radio back in 2020. At the time, Mogale was employed at one of the SABC radio stations.
“Mogale detailed how individuals could amass wealth by investing in Mining City packages, promising returns based on the invested amount. During the radio advert, he invited listeners to attend a seminar at his office in Polokwane, where he and two others would present,” explained Ledwaba.
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Sebasa Mogale granted bail in Bitcoin fraud case-Image Source@iStockAccording to Ledwaba, the seminar attracted a significant number of attendees who were provided with brochures outlining various investment packages. Trusting Mogale’s reputation as a radio presenter, attendees were instructed to deposit money into a Standard Bank account belonging to Altcoin Trader. The investment packages ranged from R6,500 to R253,000, with promised payouts.
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Victims’ Plight
After depositing their money, victims were instructed to return to the office to create email addresses and login details for accessing their investments. They were advised to wait for six months before attempting to withdraw their returns for better benefits.
“When victims attempted to withdraw their funds, they discovered that the provided details were blocked. Upon contacting Sebasa Mogale, he claimed that the Mining City scheme had collapsed due to inflation,” said Ledwaba.
Subsequent visits to Mogale’s office revealed its closure, with his phone perpetually on voicemail. Frustrated victims lodged over 10 cases with the Polokwane and Mokopane SAPS in 2022, with more expected to follow.
Police investigations into the matter are ongoing.
