Cape Town - A woman who gave cash loans to the poor, allegedly in violation of the National Credit Act, appeared in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Faeza Mitchells, 36, of Bonteheuwel, was not asked to plead when she appeared before magistrate Sabrina Sonnenberg.
She is to go on trial on October 9 in the form of a plea bargain, in which she pleads guilty and is sentenced in accordance with an agreement reached with the State.
If the magistrate is satisfied that the agreed sentence is fair and just, she will confirm it, and pronounce sentence accordingly.
According to the charge sheet,Mitchells illegally took possession of her clients’ ID documents andbank cards, including ATM access cards, or SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) cards.
The alleged victims also had to provide her with their bank card pin numbers.
She faces 51 charges in terms of the National Credit Act.
According to the charge sheet, only three of the charges pertained to cash loans, while the rest related to credit purchases of food and clothing.
She was warned to appear in court again on October 9, when her plea bargain agreement was to be presented to the court.
Sapa