Chinese Mashonisa Duo Slapped with Tiny Fines, Mzansi Calls for Deportation
Two Chinese nationals found themselves in hot water for running unregistered cash loan businesses in the North West province, commonly known as mashonisa.
When they appeared in court on Monday, they were hit with a fine of R10,000 each.
This punishment serves as a penalty for their involvement in the illegal operation of unregistered cash loan businesses, which goes against South Africa’s National Credit Act.
How the Loan Sharks Operated
These two foreigners lent money to desperate individuals, taking their SASSA cards and bank cards as collateral.
The duo made their first appearance in court back in March of this year.
According to the police, the two lent money to desperate people and held onto their SASSA and bank cards, along with other important documents, as security.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula revealed that search and seizure warrants were executed at two business premises suspected of operating as loan sharks in Setlagole.
“The suspects, Nengbiao Xue, aged 41, and Xiamei Chen, aged 47, were arrested at their respective establishments for violating Section 133 of the National Credit Act, 2005 (Act No. 34 of 2005). During the operation, authorities seized various items, including SASSA cards, bank cards, ID books, and SA Post Office cards, from both locations,” Mathebula said.
Mzansi Outraged As Chinese Mashonisa Duo Gets Measly Fines
After the Chinese nationals received their sentence, South Africans took to Twitter to express their dissatisfaction, deeming the court too lenient. Some believed that the two should have been deported for breaking the country’s laws.
Others playfully speculated that one of their clients had reported them after failing to repay the borrowed money.
Here are a few comments:
@ke_moetapele:
Just a slap on the wrist….don’t do it again….if you were china 🇨🇳 they would deport you for just being black let alone breaking the law
@LS_Mabitle:
I have a feeling someone couldn’t pay and decided to go report machonisa ba ma china
@Agent2053:
If it was a black South African he would have been jailed for 10years but ngoba it’s this things they just fine.
@Sizarhwayiza:
Deportation would have been appropriate
@Jamza100:
What a ridiculous small fine. The fine should have been 1m each. This case should be reviewed. Seems like someone got bribed.