Manzini – Police in Manzini and Mbabane are searching for two women linked to separate fraud cases that have left victims losing more than E200 000 in promised travel and job opportunities.
The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) issued an appeal for public assistance after identifying 33-year-old Thandeka Mamba of Mangwaneni, Mbabane, as the key suspect in a theft by false pretence case involving a failed group boat cruise.
Investigators say Mamba allegedly collected E131 040 from 17 people in June 2025 after advertising a boat cruise package. On 27 November, she reportedly hired a kombi to transport the group to Durban and booked overnight accommodation, telling the travellers she would join them the next morning. She never appeared. Police say she disappeared without a trace, leaving the group stranded and forced to cover their own transport and additional costs to return home.
REPS reports that more victims have since stepped forward with similar complaints linked to the same suspect, and further charges are expected. The public is urged to contact the numbers shared in the police alert if they have information that could assist in locating her.
In a related case, Mbabane police are investigating a scam involving a 47-year-old woman from kaHlatsi who lost E70 000 to a man posing as a travel agent. She had reportedly been told the payment would secure employment in Canada. After months passed with no updates and no sign of the promised opportunity, she reported the matter.
REPS is warning citizens to verify all travel offers, overseas job placements and any transactions requiring advance payments, noting that fraudsters are using increasingly deceptive tactics and continue to target unsuspecting individuals.
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