Four foreign nationals have been arrested in Gauteng after allegedly defrauding a South African woman through an elaborate romance scam involving a fabricated Ugandan priest, a makeshift altar, and an underground cave constructed to simulate ancestral communication.
Police arrested the suspects, Ismair Nsubugu, George Lubuluma, Geofrey Bukenya, and Nicolas Bolodangaine, aged between 26 and 34, on May 29, 2026, following a targeted police operation.
Police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said the suspects allegedly convinced a South African woman that her money could be multiplied through ancestral rituals conducted by a purported Ugandan priest.
The victim grew suspicious and alerted authorities, who then moved quickly to spring a trap.
Acting on information from the complainant, police arrested one suspect while he was in the process of accompanying her to Midrand “to secure loans from a banking institution” an apparent attempt to extract further funds from the victim.
The arrested suspect then led investigators to a property in Winchester Hills, where the remaining three suspects were apprehended.
“During the operation, police discovered a makeshift altar and an underground cave allegedly used to deceive victims into believing that ancestors were communicating with them,” Sibeko said
All four suspects appeared before the Booysens Magistrates’ Court on 1 June 2026. They remain in custody. The case was postponed to 8 June 2026 for further investigation.
Police have indicated that the probe extends beyond this single case.
Investigators are “also investigating possible links to other similar scam cases,” suggesting the accused may be connected to a broader network of fraud.
Police urged anyone who may have fallen victim to a similar scam, or who has information that could assist the investigation to come forward.
Information can also be submitted anonymously through the MySAPS App.
IOL News
