Fraud case against Voëlklip widower

GEORGE NEWS - Herold's Bay businessman and well-known widower, Ettienne Scheepers, whose wife and two children died after plunging into the ocean near the popular holiday resort in 2019, is once again on South Africans' lips.

Scheepers is the talk of the town as a case of fraud is being investigated against him following the sale of Heroldsbaai Kafee, the only shop in the resort, more than 14 months ago.

The shop used to be one of his deceased wife's great passions.

Southern Cape police spokesperson Capt Malcolm Pojie confirmed that the George Detective Branch is investigating a fraud case instituted by the new owner.

"He allegedly bought the business [from Scheepers] not knowing that it forms part of an estate that still needs to be finalised. The investigation is at an early stage. No one has been arrested," said Pojie.

However, Scheepers said he is unaware of the case, which was opened by the owner about two weeks ago, and is willing to take it further.

According to his attorney, Donald Curtis of Chimes van Wyk Attorneys, Scheepers has not been informed of any criminal case against him - either by the police or the executors of his late wife Heidi's estate.

The death of Heidi (35), Hugo (2) and Cozette (6) on Tuesday 22 October 2019 made national news headlines for weeks. On 23 October, the day after they went missing, their vehicle, a silver VW Caravelle, was found at the foot of Hansie se Bank, a popular viewpoint on the Voëlklip Road near Herold's Bay.

Two days later, Hugo's body was found near the wreck while Heidi's body was found the following Saturday in the sea near Herold's Bay beach. Cozette has never been found.

Rental issues

"It is illuminating to learn the alleged charges were laid so long ago and nothing has come of it," Curtis said in response to a media enquiry.

According to Curtis, this is because the transaction is, at most, a possible civil (not criminal) dispute where the true catalyst is actually the owner ceasing to pay the rental for the business premises.

The premises forms part of Heidi's deceased estate, which has not been finalised.

"They are in arrears of approximately R100 000 at this stage, despite a prosperous holiday trading season," said Curtis.

He reiterated that the transaction never contemplated the sale of the property [the building that houses the business] at all - which only the estate can do - and that the owner, a businessman from Gauteng, had first option to purchase the property if or when it becomes possible in future.

Curtis confirmed that Scheepers will deal with any charges if it becomes necessary and is considering recourse against the owner.

Heroldsbaai Kafee, once managed by the late Heidi Scheepers, has been part of this community for as long as most can remember. Ettienne Scheepers is being accused of fraud by the new owner of the Heroldsbaai Kafee which Scheepers sold 14 months ago. His late wife, Heidi, was passionate about the shop.

Trust account

But the owner, who asked that his name be withheld, disagrees. "If the rent is that far behind, why don't they sue me or send the sheriff of the court? The rent is paid into a trust account and not into Ettienne's personal account. He is not the executor of the estate."

However, in the past the rent used to be paid directly into Scheepers' personal bank account and not into a trust account.

The owner said he bought the business as well as all the shop equipment. He confirmed he had first option to buy the property, but the transaction had not yet been completed because of possible irregularities surrounding the purchase transaction, as Heidi's estate is still frozen.

He stated that he was therefore withholding some of the rent from Scheepers due to the pending police investigation as well as the upcoming civil case, and is currently paying the rent into a trust account.