VERULAM, South Africa — Manoshin Raju, 36, has been arrested for allegedly defrauding senior citizens of over R1 million by promising holidays that never occurred.
Raju was taken into custody on Friday and appeared in Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Monday. He remains remanded at Westville Prison pending a formal bail application.
Authorities say Raju exploited vulnerable pensioners, targeting members of the Belvedere Senior Citizens Club. Between February and June 2025, Raju allegedly collected payments for trips to resorts like Margate Sands, only to disappear without arranging any bookings.
One pensioner described arriving at the resort to find no booking had been made, leaving the group stranded for hours. The Belvedere Senior Citizens Club borrowed R24,000 from the Association of Senior Citizens of Tongaat (Ascot) to cover one night’s accommodation, which the pensioners had to repay.
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said Raju may be linked to additional fraud cases in Umkomaas, Malvern, and elsewhere in KwaZulu-Natal. Police confirmed his arrest in Malvern after two years on the run.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities look into potential other victims across the province.
