Paramedic-turned-bitcoin entrepreneur Sphelele “Sgumza” Mbatha’s home was set on fire by protestors, who were upset due to the collapse of his Ponzi-like “investment scheme,” as per Ladysmith Gazette.
Bitcoin Wallet, the company of Mbatha promised 100-percent returns to its investors by investing South African rand in cryptocurrencies. The firm shut down its operation on July 4, Mbatha believed to have been taking in more than R2 million, approximately $140,000, in cash deposits per day.
Mbatha appeared on Nqubeko FM in Ladysmith on July 9 to explain that a phishing scam has compromised some investor’s accounts. During an earlier radio appearance he went on to state that Bitcoin Wallets had “no cash to pay out.” That very evening the social media was full of rumors that Mbatha had been arrested.
Following which a 200 person crowd gathering in front of Ladysmith police station, demanding to see the Bitcoin Wallet’s manager. Investors were running high on tension as they were reportedly unable to contact Mbatha since its shut down. One of the investor pleaded for the crowd not overreact:
Please don’t kill him now ?. He still has my R16 000 Bantu..#sgumza
— dope kid wenzi (@weezywenzile) July 10, 2019
Reports from the following morning to indicate that Mbatha had not been arrested, as the police could “only act if investors open cases against the Bitcoin Wallets manager.”
On Wednesday afternoon, a hoard of crowd assembled around Mbatha’s home purportedly wanting to see the manager. Following the home’s ignition, an anonymous person on the scene was interviewd by TimesLIVE, stating that angry investors were seeking vigilante justice.
Sgumza House on Fire – #BitcoinWallet #Ladysmith pic.twitter.com/xVXlU2mgnQ
— Inland Finder (@InlandFinder) July 10, 2019
“The completed form should then be handed in at the Ladysmith police station, together with your Bitcoin Wallets receipt, and a copy of your ID.”
Mbatha appears to be on the run as of now.
Bitcoin Wallets manager Sphelele ‘Sgumza’ Mbatha is still on the run and has not been arrested. https://t.co/kDIQraBcdS
— Look Local (@looklocalsa) July 11, 2019
Read more: Jerome Powell, Fed Chairman Compares Bitcoin to Gold
Image source – Pixabay.com
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