Fake Prophetess And Ugandan Boyfriend Jailed 15 Years For R650,000 Dating Scam In Limpopo

A Ugandan man and his accomplice posing as a “prophetess” have been sentenced to 15 years of direct imprisonment after defrauding a Limpopo woman of R650,000 in an elaborate dating and spiritual scam.

The Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Polokwane handed down the sentence to Serage Martin Lubenga, 28, and Rhoda Mirembe, 33, after they pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and one count of corruption.

The duo were arrested in 2023 following a Hawks investigation into a case where a 39-year-old Limpopo woman—whose identity is withheld to protect her—was tricked into believing she was about to receive a miraculous financial windfall.

“In September 2023, the accused acted in a common purpose and defrauded a 39-year-old woman of an amount of R650,000,” said Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa, spokesperson for the Hawks in Limpopo.

From Love to Lies: How the Scheme Unfolded

The scam began when the victim met Lubenga, who introduced himself simply as “Martin.” A romantic relationship developed, during which the woman shared her financial struggles. Lubenga claimed he knew a prophet who could help. He then introduced the woman to “Alice,” later revealed to be Rhoda Mirembe.

Mirembe, posing as a prophetess, held regular prayer sessions and promised the victim a R4 million payout—if she could raise a 10% activation fee. “One day, the prophet came to the victim’s place driving a BMW. She offloaded a bag full of false notes purported to be money to the value of R4 million,” said Mmuroa.

Desperate for financial relief, the woman raised R650,000 and handed it over to the scammers. She was also instructed to submit her personal documents—including her bank statements, ID copy, and payslip—under the pretence that these would be prayed over to secure a job promotion.

The con artists continued extracting money until the victim grew suspicious and alerted the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit.

Luxury Cars Seized as Hawks Crack Down on Fraud

The Hawks launched an intensive investigation, ultimately tracking down Lubenga and Mirembe in Potchefstroom, North West. Authorities uncovered falsified documents and several fraudulent rental applications in Polokwane’s upmarket suburbs using the victim’s details.

Investigators also seized four luxury vehicles purchased with the stolen funds, including a Range Rover, two Mercedes-Benzes, and a BMW X6.

On May 8, both accused pleaded guilty. They were each sentenced to 10 years for the first fraud count, 5 years for the second, and 5 more for corruption. The court ruled that the 10-year and 5-year fraud sentences would run concurrently, resulting in an effective 15-year prison term for each. They were also declared unfit to possess firearms.

Major General Gopz Govender, the provincial head of the Hawks in Limpopo, commended the investigation and prosecution teams.
“Excellent work was done to ensure the accused received lengthy sentences for their offenses,” he said.

The case serves as a stark warning about the dangers of spiritual scams and financial manipulation through fake relationships.

---

For SA Crime News Follow SurgeZirc SA on Facebook,  X and Instagram