Author: Kathryn Cleary

Everyone uses Google – or at least knows what it is: an online search engine helping people find anything from directions to recipes. Recently, Google helped our reporter find much more than usual. Over the past two weeks Kathryn Cleary found 29 potential scam websites claiming to sell puppies. The majority of these sites appeared as Google Ads – either at the top or bottom of the first search result page. So, we spoke to Google. And no, they don’t know where the puppies are. Google is smart, and the way GoogleAds works is even smarter. For the website publisher,…

Last week a Russian puppy named Max led Grocott’s Mail reporters to four fake websites. After a local Makhanda (Grahamstown) couple lost R30 000 and the promise of a puppy in an online scam, our team started digging. What we found initially was impressive, or so we thought; however, four websites soon turned to 29. With our noses to the ground, the scent of similarity was strong with these 29 sites, and here is exactly why. The above graphic depicts what we call the “pedigree” of a pet scam; or a family tree. We have three main ‘parents’; Happy Tales…

Our reporters can confirm that the internet is filled with puppies, but it’s hard to tell if any of them are real. Though we have used careful data analysis to create a scam ‘pedigree’, our team cannot prove for certain that all of these sites are scams. Despite testimonies of people losing large amounts of money with no puppy in return, journalistically we need confirmation from the police to confirm a case of fraud. What we have done is suggested a link between these sites, of which a number have been reported as potential scams. Following up on last week’s…

After uncovering four fake puppy-selling websites, our team visited the local Grahamstown SPCA to find some real puppies. Our reporters can happily confirm that there are indeed a collection of cute, playful pups waiting to find their new homes. SPCA Manager, Phillip McDougall, encouraged residents to adopt from the SPCA; for both financial and moral reasons. The SPCA currently charges R450 for a cat and R830 for a dog which includes the adoption fee, sterilisation of the animal and a microchip. “We are rescuing and taking in stray and unwanted animals. So why go to a breeder when there are…

“It’s like losing a puppy all over again” Makhanda (Grahamstown) couple loses R30 000 in internet scam. Grocott’s Mail reports. When Estelle de Jongh* and husband Andre* recently lost a puppy to distemper, they were devastated. Apart from the expense – Estelle had to take an advance from her employer to pay the R5 000 vet bill – they had the heartbreak of losing a little creature they’d already firmly bonded with. Andre, seeing Estelle still struggling with the loss weeks later, decided he would surprise her. He went on to the internet and searched for “golden retriever puppy”. A few websites…

Community Health Workers (CHWs) form a huge part of South Africa’s public healthcare system. CHWs work for minimal salaries to provide care and counselling to their local communities, including outreach services and home visits. CHWs currently do not receive a salary in accordance with the country’s minimum wage policy; however, in this year’s national budget announcement it was stated that CHWs would receive a minimum wage by 2021/22. The Eastern Cape Department of Health has taken proactive measures to improve COmmunity Health Worker salaries and working conditions.  A press release dated 7 March read: “Eastern Cape Department of Health is…

Last week Grocott’s Mail was approached by an anonymous source informing us of a potential online scam. The scam involved a website, a puppy, a fake pet courier and R30 000. This one tip-off led our team to uncovering three more websites of similar design and – in all honesty – humour. Let’s start with the first website, www.goldenpupshome.co.za. The website advertises beautiful labrador and golden retriever puppies for sale at R5 500, with an added shipping cost of R750. The company boasts safe and secure travel for your new puppy with trusted airline and transport companies, and even offers…

The small town of Hamburg sits between East London and Port Alfred on the R72. About 15 kilometres down a gravel road along the Keiskamma River lies the picturesque Eastern Cape village. Despite the serene beauty of the river and its famous vibrant arts community, Hamburg has been water stressed for over a year. Grocott’s Mail visited the area and dug deeper into the community’s water troubles.  Hamburg falls under Ngqushwa Local Municipality, along with Bhira and Peddie; and forms part of the Amathole District Municipality (ADM). Mid-February Mail & Guardian reported on the water crisis in ADM’s Mbhashe Local Municipality.…

Rhodes University and the Gift of the Givers have worked together to secure groundwater for the university’s campus. Starting Friday 22 February, the Givers team drilled an exploratory borehole at Settlers Monument, striking water within the first hour. This comes as Makana announces that James Kleynhans is currently operating at under 50 percent due to maintenance; residents on the east side can expect atleast 5 days until repairs are complete. Water trucks will be augmenting supply, says Makana.  A statement issued by the Gift of the Givers Founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman stated, “The life blood of the economy is Rhodes University.…

Tuesday 12 January the Sun City residents raised the red flag; calling a stop to poor sanitation and service delivery in their community. The road going up to the Electricity Department was barricaded with tires, rocks and burning rubbish, and buckets filled with waste and maggots were set out on display. Sun City is an informal settlement that sits on top of an old landfill; as a result, Makana is unable to install underground sewer and water lines. Residents are forced to use the bucket system, as well as share one working tap. Dustin Davies is a resident of…