No ring, no groom, but married!
LATEST SCAM:
“South African student Bronwyn Gower got the shock of her life when she turned up at the home affairs office this month to replace her stolen identity card and was told that she was married. She was informed that her chosen one was Fabian Oshi, born May 1, 1978 who appeared to be a Nigerian national.
A total of 3387 complaints have been filed since 2001 by women who have been married to foreign nationals from Nigeria, Egypt, Pakistan, China, India and Brazil who allegedly paid about R5000 (�670) to corrupt home affairs officials for a marriage certificate that will lead to South African citizenship.
The government is launching a campaign beginning next week to encourage South African women to check their marital status at their local home affairs ofice a special desk will be set up to handle the status checks.
Bronwyn’s “big day” allegedly took place in Mhala, a village close to the border with Mozambique and Swaziland, on April 14, when South Africa held elections and all government offices were closed. Because the marriage took place on that date, Bronwyn, was able to get a quick annulment.
Other women are not so lucky. Many only learned of their new status when they turned up to register their “real marriage” and were told that they had to divorce their first husband or face charges of bigamy.”
August 1st, 2006 at 5:56pm
I’m very intrigued as to the fact that you have gone to the extent of posting my story on your blog… I was the unfortunate one to which this crazy story happened…
August 1st, 2006 at 6:24pm
Im sorry you had to go through all that Bronwyn. What a nightmare.
August 2nd, 2006 at 10:53am
africa is so bloody corrupt….cant say i have too many fond memories of my life there…
August 2nd, 2006 at 1:30pm
is this ken, as in kenna penna or another ken?
August 2nd, 2006 at 4:28pm
the one and only sis’ ;)
August 3rd, 2006 at 2:10pm
thanks, it has it’s moments, it definately makes for a good story round the dinner table. my friends do find it intensely humourous… still battling to rid myself of the nicknames that have since emerged… in a situation like that you just have to see the funny side.
Ken: Where about in africa was your life based?
August 4th, 2006 at 2:24am
Cape Town, and Johannesburg….
just fed up with all the crime…. mugging , car breakin’s and people waiting for a handout.
The land itself is really beautiful… such a waste.