Criminals prowl Facebook Marketplace in South Africa

The South African Police Service has issued a warning to South Africans buying or selling goods through Facebook Marketplace and other online trading sites.

It followed an incident in Motherwell, Gqeberha, on Wednesday, where a person looking to buy a car on Facebook Marketplace was targeted by armed criminals, robbed, and a vehicle was stolen.

“According to reports, a complainant and two friends travelled to Mdundu Street, NU6, Motherwell, after responding to a Facebook Marketplace advertisement for a vehicle,” SAPS said in a statement.

“Upon arriving at the address, the person who had allegedly communicated with the complainant via Facebook informed them that the vehicle was parked inside the yard.”

As the three potential buyers were lured into the enclosed yard, they were confronted by armed suspects who allegedly assaulted them.

They were robbed of cash and their cellular phones before the alleged assailants fled in the Kia Sportage that the three buyers arrived in.

Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg said that criminals are increasingly using online marketplaces to target unsuspecting buyers and sellers.

These criminals advertise non-existent goods and arrange meetings in secluded areas where victims can be robbed.

“The SAPS urges the public to take the following precautions when conducting transactions through online marketplaces,” she said.

Sellers or buyers on Facebook Marketplace are advised to arrange meetings in public places with high visibility and regular foot traffic.

Markets and Indicators:

Name Value Move in %
Rand / Dollar 08:17 17.8946 -0.12%
Rand / Pound 08:17 23.9849 0.24%
Rand / Euro 08:17 20.7740 -0.05%
Rand / Swiss Franc 08:15 22.3536 0.01%
Gold (usd/oz) 08:16 3 340.77 0.50%
Platinum (usd/oz) 08:16 1 381.50 -0.85%

JSE Shares Up/Down:

Large Caps
Name Value (R) Move (R) Move in %
EXX: EXXARO 173.27 4.18 2.47%
NPN: NASPERS-N 5,545.38 124.39 2.29%
PRX: PROSUS 1,011.99 19.99 2.02%
CLS: CLICKS 362.35 6.95 1.96%

All Share (J203) 97 019 0.23%
All Share Industrial (J257) 144 840 0.48%
Financials (J580) 52 792 0.22%
Top 40 (J200) 89 304 0.29%
Industrial 25 (J211) 136 566 0.54%
Financial 15 (J212) 20 715 0.22%
Resources 10 (J210) 80 245 -0.14%

Financial data provided by: iress, 15min delay

This article is published on Business Point website

Updated: July 2026

#WolmaransstadLinkBusiness

ANC's Sarah Nkatlo says she is still Maquassi Hills Speaker while Tshireletso Malebatsane is acting

Wolmaransstad - The African National Congress member in Maquassi Hills, Sarah Nkatlo says she is still the current Council Speaker while Tshireletso Malebatsane is acting Nkatlo says, currently there are two Council Speakers in Maquassi Hills, her as the legitimate Speaker and Malebatsane as illegitimate Speaker. She says Tshireletso Malebatsane is illegitimately acting as Speaker of the Council She introduced herself as the Current Speaker of Maquassi Hills while Tshireletso Malebatsane also introduced himself as Council Speaker at the recently held North West Provincial Legislature's SCOPA meeting in which they failed to deliver a financial report that was supposed to show how municipal finds were used Nkatlo says, she has never been told to step down or step aside as the Speaker of Coucil of Maquassi Hills, she says the problem began in mid-April when councillors decided to elect a new Speaker without her as the current Council Speaker and Municipal M...

SAMWU affiliated employees wants Maquassi Hills Municipal Manager to resign

Wolmaransstad - The South African Municipal Workers Union - (SAMWU) members in Maquassi Hills sub-district are calling for an immediate resignation of the Municipal Manager, Thulile Mbonami over provident/pension fund crisis Meanwhile the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in North West has called for disbandment of the municipality Municipal employees delivered memorandum of demands to the Maquassi Hills Municipal Offices on Friday, 13 June 2026 SAMWU members have been protesting for weeks over lapsed policies that were not payed monthly. Members say, they have been inquiring about the issue, however, the person responsible - being the Municipal Manager said, she doesn't know what transpired As a result, this issue has led to SAMWU affiliated employees at the municipality to down tools for weeks "For 15 years that I have worked at the municipality...

"The council here has proven to be useless" - SANCO hits hard at Maquassi Hills Council

The South African National Civic Organisation - SANCO in the North West has hit hard at the Maquassi Hills Municipal Council over failing to have their house in order The civic organisation was speaking on the sidelines of protest over Provident Fund issues in the municipality recently SANCO representative slammed Maquassi Hills Municipal Council for failure to resolve issues engulfing the municipality SANCO is calling for the disbandment of the Maquassi Hills Municipality after council members were thrown out of the North West Provincial Legislature's SCOPA meeting for failing to deliver a financial report and answer audit questions as more issues continue to pile up The SCOPA committee is aware that, the Maquassi Hills residents are not receiving proper municipal services, however, the municipality has called on residents with municipal debts such as of that of water to make payments for services provided by the municipality "The c...

The EFFYC challenged ANCYL to use party structures to remove Maquassi Hills Mayor from office

The Economic Freedom Fighters Youth Command in Maquassi Hills sub-region has challenged the ANC Youth League to use it's party's structures in having Mayor Mzwandile Feliti recalled The Youth Command was speaking at the height of the recently led Youth Demand March by the ANC Youth League in Maquassi Hills in mid-April 2026 The Youth Command said, residents of Maquassi Hills should not be used as foot soldiers in ANC factional battles The Youth Command also said, The ANC Youth League's Youth Demand March was nothing but a desperate attempt by a divided organisation to mobilise unsuspecting masses to fight internal leadership battles The ANC Youth League demands the Mayor to account on various matters which include youth employment, running water taps and removal of health hazard dumping sites in the municipality The EFF Youth Command challenged the Youth League to use ANC structures to remove Maquassi Hills Mayor from office "If ANC Yout...

March and March organisers in Wolmaransstad are allegedly receiving threats from foreign business owners

March and March organisers in Wolmaransstad are reported to be receiving threats from foreign shop owners. An awareness campaign against illegal shop owners in Wolmaransstad that was supposed to educate community members about March and March's objectives and aims was postponed. The campaign was supposed to be held in Wolmaransstad It is alleged that, the organisers are receiving threats from certain foreign business owners The awareness campaign was since rescheduled to Sunday, 28th of June 2026 ahead of Tuesday, 30th June 2026 protests against illegal shop owners and immigrants. A police visibility has been organised for Tuesday, 30th June 2026 The alleged threats on personal lives highlights a significant impact, Wolmaransstad Link has not seen an information that indicate whether a case was registered with the Wolmaransstad police or not However, the said shutdown of illegal foreign owned shops in Wolmaransstad was expected to commence on Tuesday, 3...

Search This Blog