Thousands were lost and an apology letter was at the top of his priority list.
On Tuesday, August 23, a suspect was under ‘cross examination’ by four guesthouse owners and managers, respectively.
The suspect allegedly promised work to 36 employees in eMalahleni as Rope Access Technicians. He then booked them into guesthouses in our city, promising them that work will start soon.
A total of 24 nights were booked at four different guesthouses, where 14 employees spent 14 nights at one guesthouse alone.
“Some of these people left their permanent jobs to work for this man with all his empty promises. He is a nice guy, but such a smooth operator and it is hard to not believe him and his stories,” a guesthouse owner said, who preferred to stay anonymous.
The alleged suspect does send a proof of payment, but on closer look, they see that it is a scheduled payment, which must be released by him. No money reflects in their accounts and he makes promises to come and pay, even to swipe his card, but obviously that does not happen either.
“After no money reflected in my account, I held the employees’ bags, until payment was received. This man then came to me, wanting to negotiate and even blamed internet banking for the delay,” the owner said.
The suspect promised a salary to his employees that they could simply not refuse, but they have not worked a day in the last month. They simply stay at the guesthouses, waiting for the employer to give them a day’s work, promising them that it will start soon.
“They have families, we have families and he does not care. The employees are from all over the country, some even from Botswana and Zimbabwe. How will I recover from this huge loss?” the owner further said.
The apology letter from the alleged suspect read as follows:
‘I have realised in life that everything in life you fight for and work hard for. My sincere apologies for the mothers, children and grandmothers I have hurt with my actions. It is deeply painful that now I learnt this lesson hard and I hope I receive your forgiveness and sincerity with my actions and this will build me as a man. To the guesthouse owners that I ripped off, please forgive me and remember I am only human, this is life. Please forgive me for all I have done.
With regards,’
The suspect was arrested on the same day, at a guesthouse in Van Reyneveld Street, where the owners kept him until police arrived. A case was opened and is under investigation.
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