Limpopo Woman Scammed of R650K in Dating Scheme by Two Foreign Nationals
A 39-year-old woman from Limpopo was recently left devastated after falling victim to a sophisticated dating and spiritual scam that cost her R650,000.
The con was orchestrated by two foreign nationals, Serage Martin Lubenga and Rhoda Mirembe, who have since been convicted and sentenced to a combined 20 years in prison, IOL reveals.
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From Friendship to Fraud
According to Limpopo Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Mmuroa, the scam began in September 2023 when the woman met a man who introduced himself as “Martin.”
The two developed a close relationship, during which the woman shared her personal and financial struggles.
Lubenga then told her he knew a prophet who could help resolve her financial challenges. She was subsequently introduced to “Alice,” who was later revealed to be Rhoda Mirembe.
The ‘Prophet’ with a Bag of Fake Millions
The woman was drawn into multiple prayer sessions with Mirembe, who eventually arrived at her home in a BMW and presented her with a bag supposedly containing R4 million in cash. Mirembe told her that to unlock the money, she needed to raise 10%—equivalent to R400,000.
Desperate for financial relief, the victim eventually handed over a total of R650,000 to the fraudsters. Mirembe and Lubenga also convinced her to provide personal documents, including her bank statements and salary slips, under the pretext of praying for her promotion at work.
Luxurious Lifestyle at the Victim’s Expense
The woman eventually became suspicious after repeatedly giving the suspects money without seeing any promised returns.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Matimba Mmuroa,
“The accused kept on milking money from the victim until she suspected criminal activities.”
She then reported the matter to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit in Polokwane leading to the suspects arrest.
Investigations revealed that Lubenga and Mirembe had falsified the victim’s personal documents and used them to apply for luxury rental properties in Polokwane. The Hawks also seized four high-end vehicles acquired through the scam, including a Range Rover, two Mercedes-Benz models, and a BMW X6.
Guilty Plea and Harsh Sentencing
On May 8, 2024, both Lubenga and Mirembe pleaded guilty and were convicted on two counts of fraud and one count of corruption.
In May 2025, they appeared in court for their sentencing. The court handed them 10 years for the first fraud count, five years for the second, and another five years for the corruption charge.
Their sentences will run consecutively, totaling 20 years in prison. Additionally, they were declared unfit to possess firearms.