Victims across South Africa speak out on migration scam after arrest of Vecco Lupa in Botswana
Victims based across South Africa — many of them foreign nationals living in the country — say they were defrauded by Evans Sivechere, also known as Vecco Lupa, the high-flying Zimbabwean migration consultant arrested in Botswana last week on multiple fraud charges linked to an alleged international jobs scam.
Sivechere operated Diamond Migration from both South Africa and Botswana, offering job placements and work-permit processing for countries including Hungary, Serbia, Ireland, and several others in Europe.
Many complainants say they paid large sums of money, only to later learn the documents they received were fake or that no applications had ever been submitted.
Several victims told IOL they opened cases at police stations in Gauteng, Limpopo and the Western Cape but struggled to secure meaningful action. Some allege they were told their matters were “civil disputes”, despite providing proof of payment, WhatsApp conversations and documents later confirmed as fraudulent.
IOL has contacted SAPS national spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, for comment. The story will be updated once the complainants have supplied their case numbers and SAPS has responded.
‘They took our money and disappeared’ — Victims describe fake permits, closed dockets and vanished offices
IOL is using first names only to protect the identities of the scammed victims.
Clifford, 25, who grew up in South Africa, said he paid R26,000 after being told he would be placed in Serbia. He received what he believed was a Serbian work permit — until embassy officials told him it was “a page taken from Google and edited”.
“When I went to their offices after confronting them, they had already moved out,” he said.
Florence said she paid R24,800 in March for a job placement in Europe.
“He didn’t deliver anything he promised,” she said. “I even went to the Small Claims Court, but he still refused to pay back my money.”
Melinda, who started her application in May, said she paid US$2,446 (about R45,000) after being promised a job in Hungary and later Serbia when the first option fell through.
“One month passed, then two. Nothing happened,” she said. She has since opened a case with SAPS.
Sithembiso, 32, said she paid US$1,240 (about R24,800) for what she believed was a legitimate Hungarian work permit. After months with no progress, she went to the Hungarian embassy and discovered the document was fake.
“He even asked me for another US$250 to secure an embassy date — the embassy told me that is illegal,” she said.
Susan, originally from Zimbabwe and now based in South Africa, said she paid R50,000 in total after being told she could secure a job in Hungary, later changed to Serbia.
“They sent me a permit full of mistakes,” she said.
Embassies later confirmed that neither Hungary nor Serbia have issued work visas to African applicants since 2024.
“When I asked for my money back, he refused.”
Botswana Police expect more charges as cross-border investigation widens
Botswana Police say Sivechere and Diamond Migration defrauded at least 11 people of more than P240,000 (about R330,000). He was arrested at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport and is expected back in court on 15 December. Authorities say further charges may be added as additional complainants emerge.
Victims in South Africa are now calling on the Hawks and SAPS Commercial Crimes units to coordinate with Botswana authorities and to revisit complaints they allege were ignored or prematurely closed.
They have urged anyone who dealt with Diamond Migration to keep all receipts, WhatsApp messages, application forms and any documents issued to them, and to insist on opening a case.
IOL is continuing to gather information from complainants and will update this story once SAPS responds.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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