By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Managing Director (MD) of Fourways-based travel agency Priority Escapes is in hot water after a warrant for his arrest was issued in Modimolle.
The 39-year-old holiday swindler’s travel agency is believed to have defrauded millions of rands from holiday companies in Modimolle.
Limpopo Police spokesperson Hlulani Mashaba says a case of fraud was opened at the Modimolle police station in August after a complainant reported that the travel agency defrauded two companies out of more than R130 000.
“The suspect received full payment from the complainants for him to fulfil holiday arrangements on their behalf.
“The misrepresentation was furthered when the suspect issued documents purporting that the holiday was arranged and paid in full.
“It has since been confirmed that the documents the complainants received are false,” said Mashaba.
The National Consumer Commission (NCC), working with the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit, has obtained a preservation order against two bank accounts belonging to Priority Escapes and its sole director, Swart, who is believed to have gone into hiding. The police are also looking for him.
The commission said that in pursuing several complaints about Priority Escapes and Swart receiving payments for holiday bookings which never materialised, it investigated and confirmed the allegations.
Priority Escapes, it said, advertised travel trips to Maldives, took deposits or full payments for the trips and received fake confirmation documents. Numerous consumers were deceived into believing that their trips to Maldives were booked and paid for — only to be told, at the last moment, that the trips had been cancelled due to the agency’s “financial challenges”.
Priority Escapes — which purported to be for the traveller who expects more — claimed to be the only South African Maldives travel specialist, with tailor-made exclusive deals that will take you “Direct To Paradise”.
The “agency” had offered affordable holidays up to the very end, when it abruptly closed on 12 August this year, when Swart mailed his clients, saying, “…we find ourselves in a position whereby we are unable to meet our financial obligations in respect of Priority Escapes clients and service providers… We have had no option other than to cease trading with immediate effect”.
The NCC found Priority Escapes and Swart to be in contravention of section 47 of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) which says when a supplier has taken a reservation and fails to supply goods or services on an agreed date or time due to a shortage of stock or incapacity, the supplier must either provide the same or equivalent goods or services to the consumer, or refund all amounts paid — with the prescribed interest and incidental costs — for breach of the agreement, unless the circumstances are beyond the supplier’s control and the supplier took reasonable steps to inform the consumer of the shortage or incapacity.
If Swart is spotted, SAPS have asked that the investigating officer Gawie Greef be contacted on 082 565 7800.