The Hawks have arrested a woman who is accused of defrauding people out of R18 million. Swereen Govender, 55, was detained on October 7 after allegedly dodging the law for the previous year.

Govender is accused of investment fraud for allegedly defrauding victims of R18 million in 2021, according to Hawks spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha. “She was arrested at a lodge on Mahathma Ghandi Road in Durban, where she was discovered working in the kitchen.”

“When approached by investigators from Durban Central police station, lead by Brigadier Vish Naidoo, who knows the wanted suspect by sight,” Ramovha stated. Govender was remanded in custody after appearing in the Durban Magistrate’s Court the same day.

She is scheduled to appear in Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court again on Wednesday. Ramovha said that Govender pretended to be a director of Aurum Line Pty (Ltd), an existent personal protective equipment (PPE) company to which she had no ties in March of last year.

According to reports, she used this firm to entice and mislead potential investors into investing in her enterprise. She promised high monthly returns on investments that never came to fruition.

Because she did not maintain her half of the agreement, the victims grew tired of hollow promises. “It became clear that she fabricated her documents solely for the goal of extorting money from unsuspecting individuals,” Ramovha added.

Govender is expected to face multiple fraud charges. Brigadier Makgalangake Sekgobela, acting commander of the Hawks in Gauteng, thanked the people and the media for their aid in locating Govender. “We once again urge members of the public who may have been victims of the investment scam to call Captain Hennie Pretorius on 079 886 3555 for the purpose of deposing affidavits,” she said.