The wheels of justice are slowly starting to turn for a group of locals who were allegedly duped out of thousands of rands invested in a 16-day tour of Thailand that never materialised.
Two tour organisers believed to have conned around 80 victims, including many Helderbergers, out of their hard-earned savings forked out for the once-in-a-lifetime trip, were arrested in Strand on Friday (22 November). The female suspects, aged 59 and 53, were arrested by investigators attached to the provincial Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in connection with the fraud amounting to about R1,9 million pocketed for the promised trip to Thailand.
“[The] investigation reveals that between 1 June 2022 and 30 July 2024, a total number of 80 victims saw an advertisement on social media platforms about a trip to Thailand. On the advertisement, it was stated that each person should pay an amount of R26 000, which will include travelling as well as the accommodation costs. It is believed that almost all the victims paid the required amount as per agreement into the bank accounts of the two suspects,” said provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie.
“When the victims realised that the trip is not going to materialise, they reported it to different police stations across the country as far as Gauteng, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. The cases were centralised in the Western Cape and, upon completion, the suspects were interviewed and were unable to provide a satisfactory explanation of what happened to the money. The two suspects were subsequently arrested at their residences in Strand.”
The suspects are expected to appear in the Strand Magistrates’ Court on Monday (25 November) on charges of fraud, theft and money laundering in terms of Section 4 and 5 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004.
Firgrove resident Fiona Stewe, like many others from her community, in Raithby, Strand, and Somerset West, was among a larger group deceived by the ostensibly reputable tour organisers. The 58-year-old responded to a social media flyer in June 2022 for a 16-day trip to Thailand, priced at R26 000 per person, organised by a Somerset West couple known for their successful international tours (“Many duped in tour ‘scam’,” DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 26 June).
The package included accommodation in luxury hotels, daily breakfast, guided excursions, flights, taxes, transfers, and travel insurance. A R5 000 deposit was required by the end of June 2022, with the remaining balance payable over 18 months, concluding by December 2023. Stewe not only made all the payments to secure her spot but also encouraged family members to join the trip from 20 June to 6 July, which turned into an alleged scam.
“We prayed for [her] arrest and finally the wheels of justice are turning in our favour. We thought this day would never come,” she said when asked to comment on one of the suspect’s arrests.
The husband was not arrested in connection with the fraud case being investigated by authorities.
Stewe further mentioned that she couldn’t speak on behalf of the victims who were lured by what seemed to be the exact same holiday package, offered by the other suspect. This suspect is believed to have organised the trip under a business name that appeared reputable, but allegedly collaborated with the same tour organisers.
