Convicted rapist Bonginkosi Masango, currently serving a 16-year prison sentence, is facing new charges after allegedly orchestrating a scam from behind bars. Masango is accused of impersonating a high-ranking Hawks officer to defraud a woman of more than R41,000.
According to Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, the victim—who cannot be named for safety reasons—was targeted in September 2022. She received a phone call from someone claiming to be “Captain Monama” from the Hawks. The caller told her that a 2006 murder case against her, which had been withdrawn years ago, had been reopened and a warrant for her arrest was issued—unless she paid R25,000.
Fearing arrest, the woman complied and paid in two installments.
Two months later, the same number contacted her again. This time, the impersonator claimed that his “colleague,” Detective Wessels, had found out she was not in custody. Masango—still posing as Captain Monama—demanded more money to allegedly “cool down” the detective and stop further legal action.
In 2024, the woman reported the scam at the Siyabuswa police station. The case was referred to the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation Unit in Middelburg. The investigation eventually led to the arrest of Masango’s 28-year-old cousin, Koosnight Mahlangu, on 3 September 2025.
Through this arrest, investigators were able to link Masango to the scam. Nkosi confirmed that Masango is currently serving time for a 2015 rape conviction.
