Two journalists Thembani Nkomo and Tapiwa Nerwande who are alleged to be running an online news tabloid have been arrested in Johannesburg for allegedly attempting to extort Harare based businessperson and socialite Prophet Edd Branson.
The accused persons were arrested on Wednesday by police details form the SAPS Honeydew Police Station.
Nkomo and Nerwande, using fictitious names, approached Branson's Office in Cape Town and claimed to have nude pictures and a story about Edd Branson's private life which might damage his image and reputation when published.
The duo demanded R50,000 payment for them not to publish the story. Edd Branson's office reportedly alerted the police and a trap was set for the duo who were told to collect the funds from a Johannesburg office.
Unbeknown to the duo they walked into a police trap and were arrested and charged with extortion and crimen injuria. The duo are set to appear in the Randburg Magistrate Courts next year.
The incident comes at a time when there have been attempts by people in both Zimbabwe and South Africa to extort Branson over these nudes and other compromising details about his personal life. A close source to the Branson camp described the arrest was “the first step towards the retaliation on rogue elements” who had gone on an rampage to fleece the self-styled prophet through extortion.
The ‘prophet' who lives the life of a common socialite recently showed off a new Rolls Royce. This lifestyle coupled with association with dodgy people like Passion Java usually attracts scum, extortionists, fraudsters and all sort of misfits.
