BLOCK B/ KASIBHEJANE - Unemployment rate is high and people are trying by all means to find jobs. And bogus employers are also taking their chance to scam people of their money.

Last week about 17 young people from Block B and Naas were ripped off by a bogus employer. It’s alleged that Rodgers Mahlalela from Block B told young and old people of the village that he works as a recruitment officer for Maria and Roberts’s Construction, which is one of the rich and big African construction companies.

According to Nelson Nkuna, who was one of the 17 youth, they were lead to believe Mahlalela, as he drives an expensive car and stays in Jozi. “He told our parents that if they want us working for that big company they must pay from R1 800 to R2000, ranging from the work we will be doing,” said Nkuna.

Parents of the young people were forced by their children’s situations to borrow money so that they can pay this man to get jobs for their sons and daughters. “I went to borrow some money to deposit for that bogus and immoral young man,” said make Mashabane of Block B.

According to the parents, Mahlalela told them to even get transport for the group of young people to Johannesburg so that they can start working.

“We went to Jozi where he said he would be, but when we called him his phone went to voicemail” said Nkuna.

Nkuna also alleged that when they got to his house in Block B they found a pail of ID copies and original University and matric certificates. It is alleged that Indians are other foreigners staying in South Africa that have been victimized by the same man.

One Indian who stays in Naas said that Mahlalela came to his shop with a friend and promised him a South African bar-coded ID for only R8 000.

The community reported the matter to the police, who are still investigating.