Garage a fined P4,100

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Tuesday February 22, 2011 00:00

Assistant superintendent, Kealotse Konyana of Borakanelo confirmed that Marufu has been fined for operating without a trade licence and the issue has since been referred to the licensing authorities.

The police chief said Marufu was also charged for working without a work permit and for employing six foreigners without work permits.

Marufu also has a pending case currently under police investigation involving a Gaborone woman, Portia Mmokele whom he is alleged to have defrauded after he claimed more than P50,000 from an insurance company after he forged Mmokele's signature.

Mmokele had taken her vehicle to Loyal Saints garage for repairs after she was involved in an accident. The money was claimed before any attempt was made to fix the vehicle in question.

Mmokele said she struggled to get Marufu to release the vehicle to her on Friday and further claims that Marufu has fitted the car with old parts. 

She said when she went to fetch the vehicle after the insurance company advised her to take it to another garage, Marufu claimed that he could not find the car keys and that the key he eventually produced could not open the boot.

In a previous interview, Marufu accused Mmokele of being ungrateful after he had assisted her.  He said she was trying to drag the name of his business into the mud.

When contacted for comment, Marufu confirmed that Mmokele had taken her vehicle but claimed that it was in good condition.

He also denied that he has been charged for trading without a licence. As far as he is concerned, he has a trading licence even though he does not know when it will expire.

He also insists that he has a work permit.  Asked whether the police were lying that they had charged him, Marufu said he had no comment.  

Meanwhile a Tlokweng man, Augustine Sepoe has alleged that he was also ripped off by Marufu.  Sepoe said last year he helped his friend tow his vehicle to Marufu's garage after it was involved in an accident. Sepoe said they had a disagreement with Marufu as he did not want the car to be fixed at his garage.

He said Marufu told him that he could arrange with the police to compile a police report if he paid P1,800. Sepoe said he told Marufu that he could easily acquire a police report for free if he reported the accident.

However, he said, Marufu convinced the owner of the vehicle to part with P1,800. Sepoe said he demanded that Marufu should refund them and reported the matter to the police who advised them to resolve the matter amicably between themselves.

Sepoe said Marufu quoted close to P20,000 for fixing the car which they ended up paying in installments.  He said Marufu also charged Value Added Tax (VAT) and demanded a cash payment. Sepoe said Marufu also charged him P1,700 for a side mirror that he is yet to replace.

He said after he suggested buying the side mirror himself, Marufu insisted on only refunding him if he produced a receipt.  Sepoe said he found this absurd.  'Why should I produce a receipt for claiming back my money,' he questioned.

He said during that time, Marufu's garage was operating in Mogoditshane.   Sepoe said he reported the matter to the Mogoditshane police and he returned to the garage accompanied by two special constables.  But he said Marufu refused to talk to the police officers, referring to them as 'small boys'.

Sepoe said he has since taken up the matter with the small claims court. Loyal Saints Motors is a garage located near the Gaborone bus rank.