E-mail: post@peoplespost.co.za
Tuesday 1 March 2011
Tel: 021 713 9440 Fax: 021 713 9481
Con hits streets REYANA STEYN
G
ATESVILLE shop owners are fuming at an alleged con artist who is doing the rounds pretending to collect money for a madrassah. The man, who dresses in full Islamic gear, approaches people and claims he is collecting on behalf of the Madrassah-tul-Ilm in Bonteheuwel. He has a list requesting R5 donations. “For about a year this man, known as Shaheed Daniels, has been asking for donations. Some customers suspected it was a scam and that he was taking the money for himself,” says Yusuf Osman, owner of Osman’s House in Gatesville. “I questioned him once and asked him how he was getting paid for doing this and he said he gets a commission for the lists he completes and I thought, that sounds fair enough.” Osman says there had been reports of people seeing Daniels shopping after he had collected money. “One of my staff members said she saw him in Vangate Mall after he collected money; they saw him take his family for lunch and his Islamic gear was removed.” Osman says Daniels collected money outside his shop almost every day. He later discovered that Daniels was using his name. “He was walking around with a letter stating that he had the permission of Osman’s Store to ask people for money. And that was when I knew something could be dodgy.” Osman confronted Daniels, asking who had given him permission to use his shop’s name. “He said that the person whom he was collecting money for, had given him the papers. I asked to speak to that person then, because surely I
should have been consulted, especially if my name is being used. I told him to get in the car and we can go to this person.” Daniels said he could not “at that moment” but would return later that day. He never did. Osman contacted an imam in Bonteheuwel and explained the situation. When the imam went to the address Daniels had supplied, it was discovered that there was no madrassah there. Imam Moegammad Colbie from the Netreg Islamic Society confronted Daniels about the madrassah. “I was concerned when I heard this man was collecting because we only have one mosque and one madrassah in the area and if there was any other madrassah, we would know about it. We went to investigate and found there was no madrassah. “Netreg is a poor community, and many people claim they are collecting for the area, but we would never send people out to the roads or door to door and the only people who will collect is the forum members of the Masjied and they have people who will donate money.” Colbie says when people give money they must be able to report where the money is going and there must be accountability and proof before money is given. “People should always try to contact the organisation and hear if the people are really collecting for them, because you never know where the money is going. And it is wrong to collect on behalf of children or an organisation, when the money is for yourself,” says Colbie. Osman bumped into Daniels again. “I got him one day outside Gatesville Mosque and confronted him again, and he was in such a rush to leave.” After further investigation, Osman discovered that the collection
lists had been printed around the corner from his store in Gatesville. Daniels had allegedly bought paper from a stationery shop and done the printing at a nearby internet cafe. People’s Post visited the internet cafe and the stationery store and they both confirmed doing business with Daniels. A woman from the internet cafe, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that she had typed the letter for him. Osman says Daniels hasn’t been back. “What hurts me is the fact that he is taking money from people who have worked hard for their money, and pensioners. Whenever pensioners were paid he would be collecting at the pay-out point.” Osman alerted Rygate Security and they are looking out for him. Abubakar Roman, a hawker, also claims that the money which is being collected is for Daniels himself. “We see him buying goods at shops with the money he collected and that’s not fair.” A resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, says it’s “sickening” the way scams are doing the rounds. Saleem Bray, owner of Bargain Gas, says many people have given money to Daniels. “We all gave money, but we want to warn people to be careful, because people will come with all sorts of stories and sometimes it’s a con and people work hard for their money.” Tawfiq Ismail from Gatesville also gave money. “He operates on a bicycle and you still see him standing at Wembley, Elite or Shoprite. It’s sad that this could be a con because not only did I give money, but elderly people were giving him money too.” People’s Post drove past the areas Daniels is still known to be collecting money from, but he was nowhere to be found. Osman contacted the reporter
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Athlone police spokesperson, warns people to be wary of scams. “People who try and scam others target vulnerable and elderly people. We are urging people to double check and come forward and check organisations before they give money.” To report any incidents call (021) 697-9238.
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and alerted her that Daniels was asking for money again in Gatesville on Saturday, but by the time the reporter reached the area, Daniels had already taken off. The paper also tried to get hold of Daniels via telephone, but was unsuccessful by the time of going to print. Warrant Officer Ian Bennett,
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JUST MADE IT: The city’s Fire and Rescue Service is currently recruit ing for the new intake at Youngsfield military base. According to Com mander Glyn Shepherd of the training academy at the Epping Fire Sta tion, the last four days saw about 15 000 hopefuls attending the fit ness evaluation. The evaluation included a 2.4 km run to be completed in 12 minutes, sit ups, bench presses and a fire fighter’s lift. Seen here is Wayne Sternsdorf of the Fire and Rescue Service getting ready to blow the whistle to indicate the cutoff time for the 2.4 km run. With one second left Ryan Polman (27) of Grassy Park on the left and Mthandazo Tafane (30) of Kasovo on the right just made it.
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