Facebook Marketplace Ice-Cream Machine Deal Turns Deadly As 3 Men Are Sentenced

• A Gauteng man was shot three times after responding to a Facebook Marketplace advertisement for an ice-cream machine in Winterveld
• A syndicate allegedly used online listings for items such as DJ equipment and vehicles to lure unsuspecting buyers into isolated locations
• Three men have been convicted following a police investigation linked to five cases registered at Loate Police Station

GAUTENG — A routine online purchase turned fatal when a man and his wife travelled to Winterveld to buy an ice-cream machine advertised on Facebook Marketplace, only to be directed into an ambush by an armed syndicate.

Three men convicted in connection with a series of such crimes have now been sentenced. Sifiso Maseko and Thapelo Ngwenya each received life imprisonment, with Maseko handed an additional 60 years and Ngwenya an additional 75 years. Ntsindiso Alfred Mtunzini was sentenced to 15 years. A fourth accused, Kabelo Ngwenya, was acquitted.

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How the online shopping syndicate operated

Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said the convictions followed a thorough investigation into a group that exploited Facebook Marketplace to target victims. The syndicate reportedly posted listings for ice-cream machines, DJ sound systems and vehicles at prices designed to attract buyers quickly.

Members within the group divided responsibilities, with some managing advertisements, others handling communication with prospective buyers, and others guiding victims toward secluded spots where they could be robbed. The investigation was linked to five cases registered at Loate Police Station between November 2021 and March 2022, with charges including murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances, assault, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Victim shot three times after ice-cream machine advert

On 28 November 2021, a man responded to one of the syndicate's listings for an ice-cream machine. He and his wife made their way to Winterveld after communicating with the suspects. On arrival, a young boy was sent to collect him and lead him to a secluded area, where armed men confronted him at gunpoint and ordered him out of his vehicle. The victim attempted to resist but was overpowered and shot three times in the stomach. He died before reaching hospital.

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Members of the Gauteng Provincial Organised Crime Unit, led by Detective Sergeant Sydney Siphiwe Tshabalala, arrested four suspects during an operation in Winterveld on 12 March 2022. An identification parade was subsequently held, and three of the accused were positively identified by victims. In total, five victims came forward and their cases were linked to the same syndicate.

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Police warn public about online deals

Acting Gauteng provincial police commissioner Major General Fred Kekana commended the investigators and prosecutors involved in securing the convictions. He also cautioned the public against responding to online advertisements offering deals that seem unusually attractive, advising buyers to verify sellers and conduct transactions in public, familiar locations rather than travelling to unknown or isolated addresses.

Brothers killed after being lured by a Facebook scam

Briefly News also reported that the Eastern Cape police confirmed that two brothers, aged 19 and 30, were murdered in Nelson Mandela Bay after responding to a Facebook advertisement. Aaron and Kyle Alberts from St Albans lost their lives after responding to an advertisement for a TV set on Facebook's Marketplace. According to reports, the brothers fell victim to a scam and were lured under false pretences, believing they were meeting a seller for a TV.

Source: Briefly News