TNW is investigating a
group of individuals
operating as a travel
agency and offering packages
and flights at suspiciously
discounted prices through
non-traditional channels.
After being alerted to the
fact that one of the properties
for which it has exclusive
marketing rights in South
Africa was being sold by a
travel agency called Travel
Ibiki, World Leisure Holidays
looked into the matter.
Cathie Bester, marketing
relationship manager of World
Leisure Holidays was referred
to Avenues Travel as the
source of the special (which
was less than a third of the
usual price). Cathie received
a call from someone who
identified herself as “Cindy
van Rooyen”, a director of
Avenues Travel. She explained
that the special was sourced
by another director at the
company but that it would
no longer be marketed.
Further investigation revealed
that while it was no longer
advertised on Travel Ibiki’s
website, the package was still
offered to potential clients
who inquired about it over
the phone.
TNW phoned the number of
“Cindy” which was answered
by Kim Robbertse, who made
headlines in 2015 after
allegedly scamming hundreds
of SA travellers (see TNW
January 21, 2015). When
questioned by TNW, Kim
denied any involvement with
Avenues Travel.
In December, TNW reported
that Kim had been arrested
on November 14, 2016 and
had since been released on
bail of R10 000 according
to Christo Snyman national
director: forensic services
of Mazars. At the time, the
Bellville Commercial Crime
Court confirmed that her
case would be prosecuted by
Advocate Smith on January
26. Her case has since been
postponed until September 1.
Meanwhile, similarly
discounted travel packages
as well as flights were offered
by a Pretoria businessman
with no previous experience
in travel. He advertised the
deals, allegedly supplied to
him by a travel agency, to
his network of contacts via a
Whatsapp group.
One of these contacts
paid a 50% deposit on a
seven-night all-inclusive
package for Shangri-La
Le Touessrok Resort (another
hotel from World Leisure
Holidays’ Mauritius portfolio),
advertised at R20 000. She
became concerned about the
legitimacy of the deal and
discovered that there was no
flight booked with Air Mauritius
or SAA and no reservation in
her name at the property. TNW
has in its possession a copy
of the invoice and itinerary, on
which the flight details do not
match the schedules of either
airline.
When she asked to speak to
the travel agent responsible
for the bookings for clarity,
she was instead refunded
the R10 000 she paid into
the businessman’s bank
account. According to him, he
has since distanced himself
from the agency due to “time
constraints and bad service
from the travel agent”.
Look out for more on this
story in upcoming editions
of TNW.
