Former Generations Actress Latoya Makhene Allegedly Scammed

Singer and former Generations: The Legacy actress Letoya Makhene has opened a case of fraud. This after she was scammed into believing she was booked to perform at a birthday party for Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize.

According to Sunday World, the alleged swindlers — who pretended to be the organisers of Royal AM owner and businesswoman’s birthday bash — booked the musician for a performance and reportedly defrauded her of R8000 on Friday 16 September.

It appears Makhene and her team were not aware that MaMkhize had already celebrated her birthday in April this year by throwing a huge and lavish Egyptian-themed Thanksgiving party in Sandton. The publication was informed of the alleged scamming incident by Makhene’s manager, Mpho Ralengole.

According to Ralengole, the “fake” event organisers claimed that they were contracted to book artists to perform at MaMkhize’s birthday party which they said would take place at Max Lounge in Durban on Sunday 18 September.

After negotiating the booking fee and agreeing to R30 000, Ralengole said that one of the scammers asked her to send him Letoya’s bank account and promised to deposit the money.

“After sending the bank account to him, he said he would pay R38 000 and send me a proof of payment immediately,” she told the publication. The R800, according to the scammer, was for flights and accommodation.

However, the money did not reach Makhene’s account.

“When we told him that the money was not reflected in Letoya’s account, he gave an excuse that it was delayed because he transferred from a Standard Bank account to FNB.

“He then asked us if we could find R8 000 elsewhere immediately and pay it into the account of the travel agency, because we needed to be in Durban the following day.”

Makhene and her team finally paid the R8 000 to a travel agency the swindlers had advised them to use. And shortly after making the payment, efforts to contact the con artists failed.

The actress said that she was excited and honoured when she was told she was booked to perform at MaMkhize’s birthday bash. She also confirmed that a case has been opened.

“When I was ‘booked’, I felt honoured, because I wanted to go there and support her and celebrate with her. But yes, it is what it is, we were scammed. We have opened a case against these guys and hopefully they will be arrested and brought to book.

“These guys are a sophisticated syndicate because they know what is happening in the country, because Shauwn [indeed] throws parties at Max Lounge,” said Makhene.