GAUTENG – A sought fugitive, Swereen Govender (55), has been arrested on Friday, 07 October 2022, after she had been a fugitive from the law since 2021.

Govender stands accused of investment fraud for allegedly swindling victims of an estimated amount of R18 million during 2021. She was arrested at a Lodge in Mahathma Ghandi Road in Durban where she was found in the kitchen apparently working. She offered no resistance when approached by the detectives from Durban central police station, led by Brigadier Vish Naidoo, to whom the wanted suspect is known by sight.

Govender appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court the same day and was remanded in custody. She is expected to reappear in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 12 October 2022.

The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation has revealed that around March 2021, Govender pretended to be a director of Aurum Line Pty (Ltd), a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) company, an existing company which she had no ties to. It is reported that through the use of this company, she lured and misled potential investors to invest into her venture. She promised high monthly returns on investments made, which never materialised.

The victims grew tired of empty promises as she did not keep her end of the bargain. It became apparent that she falsified her documents for the sole purpose of extorting funds from the unsuspecting victims.

The Hawks implored the public to report Govender’s whereabouts during August this year. She is to face multiple counts of fraud. The Gauteng Acting Provincial Head of the Hawks Brigadier Makgalangake Sekgobela has thanked the public and the media for the assistance.

“We again appeal to members of the public who might have fallen victim to the investment scam to contact Captain Hennie Pretorius on 079 886 3555, for the purposes of deposing affidavits”. She said.

Source: South African Police Service