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- Eight foreign nationals were arrested in Cape Town on Tuesday and have made a brief appearance in court.
- They were arrested for internet scams and money laundering.
- The case was postponed to next Tuesday for formal bail proceedings.
Eight foreign nationals arrested as part of a joint operation by the FBI, Hawks and US Secret Service face extradition to the US.
They face several charges relating to internet scams, money laundering and identity theft.
The Nigerian nationals were arrested in Table View, Cape Town, on Tuesday and made a brief appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Wednesday afternoon.
Perry Osagiede, Enorense Izevbiege, Franklin Edosa Osagiede, Osariemen Eric Clement, Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, Musa Mudashiru, Prince Ibeabuchi Mark and Toritseju Gabriel Otubu are alleged to be members of a syndicate called the "Black Axe".
They were arrested for "internet scams, money laundering and international wide-scale financial fraud in Cape Town" during a joint operation by the FBI, US Secret Service Investigations, Interpol and local law enforcement agencies.
More than 100 victims have lost an estimated R100 million in the scams since 2011.
They allegedly preyed on women - many of them widows or divorcees - by pretending to have a genuine romantic relationship with them.
READ | Hawks, FBI partnership brings down eight 'romance' scammers in R100m international fraud case
According to the State, the accused caused at least $6.8 million in losses to American citizens and others around the world.
The US District Court for the District of New Jersey and Eastern District of Texas have issued warrants for their arrest.
Prosecutor Robin Lewis told the court the State was opposing the release of the accused.
"The State is opposing the release of the accused on the following grounds, first that they are a flight risk and the State will allege the accused are members of a organisation called the 'Black Axe'. Part of this organisation's modus operandi is to commit acts of fraud, particularly romance scams."
He claimed they also laundered money through various accounts.
"The State would submit that the accused still have money in these accounts which would make it easy for them to flee."
Lewis said some of the accused were illegally in South Africa because their passports have expired.
"The State would further submit that the accused persons also or some of the accused are not lawfully in South Africa. As it stands now, the State is still obtaining additional information from Home Affairs."
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said: "It's understood the accused defrauded victims in America and in other countries as well. There are warrants of arrests in New Jersey and Texas. We will be opposing their bail application next week."
The case was postponed to next Tuesday and Thursday for formal bail proceedings.
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