A 22-year-old university student from Limpopo has become the center of a national conversation after videos emerged showing her repeated involvement with a fake model casting agency — reigniting urgent warnings from authorities about predatory recruitment operations targeting young women.
JOHANNESBURG — What began as a family’s proudest moment has unraveled into one of South Africa’s most debated social media stories of the year.
Boitumelo, 22, was the first person in her household to be accepted into a Johannesburg university. Her family in rural Limpopo pooled together registration fees. Her mother sold livestock to cover accommodation. The expectation was simple: study hard, graduate, and build a better future.
That future is now in question — not because she failed academically, but because of what she allegedly did to survive financially.
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Fake Model Casting Agency Clips Go Viral
This week, her older cousin reportedly stumbled upon footage circulating widely across WhatsApp groups and on X, formerly Twitter. The videos showed Boitumelo at a controversial production platform linked to what authorities have described as a fake model casting agency operation.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) had previously issued a public warning about alleged irregularities connected to the studio’s recruitment practices, urging young people — particularly women — to exercise extreme caution when approached by modeling or entertainment recruiters.
Despite those warnings, Boitumelo is alleged to have visited the studio on more than seven occasions. Reports circulating online claim each appearance earned her R10,000 per shoot, potentially totalling over R70,000 in a matter of months — a sum exceeding what many entry-level graduates earn annually.
“Welcome Back”: The Clip That Started the Storm
One particular clip has drawn the most attention. In it, Boitumelo is seen confronting a producer on camera, questioning why he had not contacted her after previously promising further opportunities. His response — a cheerful “Welcome back” — implied a well-established working relationship, and struck many viewers as confirmation of repeated involvement.
What surprised audiences, however, was not shock or distress on Boitumelo’s part. In attached interview footage that has since gone viral, she appears composed, articulate, and measured — speaking openly about financial pressure, the cost of city living, and what she describes as calculated decision-making.
Student Speaks Out: “No One Was There”
Boitumelo has not denied her involvement. When approached for comment, she was direct.
“College life is expensive,” she said. “Accommodation, textbooks, transport, groceries. My family tries, but it’s not enough. I didn’t want to drop out.”
She added: “I know people will judge me. But no one was there when I had to choose between eating and paying for data to submit assignments.”
The statement has sharply divided public opinion. Many social media users have expressed sympathy, pointing to the well-documented financial struggles faced by first-generation students from rural backgrounds attending urban universities. Others have condemned her choices, arguing that involvement with a fake model casting agency carries serious legal, reputational, and personal risks that no financial pressure can justify.
Family and Community React
Back in Limpopo, family members are reported to be devastated. Relatives say they had no indication she was living a double life — to them, she remained the hardworking daughter dedicated to her studies. Community leaders have also responded publicly, calling on young people to pursue safer income alternatives and to report suspicious modeling or casting recruitment to authorities.
How to Spot a Fake Model Casting Agency
The SAPS and consumer advocacy groups have repeatedly warned that fake model casting agencies typically share identifiable red flags. These include unsolicited contact through social media, requests for upfront payment, vague contracts, pressure to perform outside agreed terms, and promises of fast, high earnings with little verification of credentials.
Young people approached by modeling or casting recruiters are advised to research the agency independently, consult trusted adults, and report suspicious operations to the SAPS or the National Consumer Commission.
Legitimate Ways for Students to Earn While Studying
Community organizations and student support groups have used Boitumelo’s story to amplify awareness about legitimate income options available to university students. These include peer tutoring, freelance writing and editing, campus brand ambassador programmes, part-time retail and hospitality work, graphic design and digital services, virtual assistant roles, event photography, handmade product sales, delivery and ride platforms, and research assistant positions offered directly through universities.
Financial aid counselors note that many South African universities also offer emergency bursaries, food banks, and student support funds that remain underutilized due to lack of awareness.
A Conversation the Country Needed
Boitumelo’s story has done what few news cycles manage — it has forced a genuine national reckoning with the intersection of poverty, ambition, fake model casting agency exploitation, and the unmet financial needs of South Africa’s growing student population.
Whether she is viewed as a victim of economic circumstance, a young woman exercising personal agency, or a cautionary example of the dangers posed by predatory casting operations, one reality is difficult to dispute: the systemic pressures that led her to this point are shared by thousands of students across the country.
The videos continue to trend. Her family has not issued a formal statement. And Boitumelo, for her part, remains composed — and unapologetic.
If you or someone you know has been approached by a suspected fake model casting agency, contact the South African Police Service on 10111 or report it online at www.saps.gov.za.
