21 members of the Masakhane Society in Roleleathunya, near Rouxville in the Free State, SA, have been told that their hard-earned cash turned into paper.

In total, the members had saved R110 000 and the money was kept at the treasurer’s house since January 2014.

The woman who was keeping the money only told the members on the day they were coming to share it that the money that had turned into worthless paper.

The chairman, Eric Mdlokovane, 45, said they were disappointed and heartbroken.

“We have been running the society for the past five years. We trusted the woman to safeguard our money until December. I was supposed to get a total of R25,000, combined with my wife’s contributions.”

The woman told the members that she had already made a plan for her brother to lend her money to replace the funds that had disappeared. But the members want to have the money before Christmas.

Taylor Makhotsa, 40, who has been paying for her 69-year-old mum’s monthly premiums said she was not coping well.

“My mother cries all the time. She was supposed to get R9,000,” said Taylor.

The treasurer said she was shocked about what happened.

Police spokesman Sergeant Yanga Ngcukana said: “A case of theft of money was opened at Rouxville Police Station. A 45-year-old woman appeared in court and was granted bail of R10 000.”