A former beneficiary of South African Breweries’ owner-driver scheme in Gqeberha has accused SAB and Standard Bank of colluding to fraudulently sell his truck without his consent.
Moegamat Rensburg had been a truck driver at SAB in Gqeberha when he was offered what he believed was the opportunity of a lifetime, to be part of SAB’s owner-driver programme.
Rensburg was instructed to purchase a truck through Standard Bank in order to deliver goods for the distiller.
Rensburg says his woes began when he started questioning unauthorised deductions by SAB from his business account. He said he never got clear answers about why money had been deducted.
“I was victimised and [my participation in the programme was] illegally terminated for reasons that don’t make sense,” he said.
Priyashnee Rensburg, the wife of Moegamat, said the bank declared her husband dead before seizing the vehicle.
“They declared my husband dead, and the money from the auction of the truck was deposited into a late estate account of a dead man,” she claimed.
The Rensburg family said it was only after they enlisted the services of a lawyer that they were made aware that the truck had been auctioned off by Standard Bank.
Rensburg said he had paid all but about R300,000 owing on the truck and expected a letter of demand for the balance. He said after the lawyer contacted the bank, they met with an official who claimed a letter of demand had been sent – but Rensburg never received it. In fact they received no communication at all from the bank.
The Rensburgs said their misfortunes have left them in huge debt. Without the truck, their livelihood came to a standstill. They have lost their home, cars and other valuables. Their lives have since spiralled downhill.
“We have lost our dignity, our livelihood – our house was fully paid up, we had no debts before this, but now we’re left with nothing,” Moegamat said.
The couple had to move from Gqeberha’s affluent suburbs to share a crowded two bedroom house with their relatives in the township. In the two-bedroom house are four adults and five children.
Priyashnee said it’s been difficult to adjust to their new lives.
“It breaks my heart that we can’t even afford to rent our own place. My husband now does odd jobs so we can at least contribute to food,” said a teary-eyed Rensburg.
Scrolla.Africa contacted Standard Bank and SAB. Both companies deny any wrongdoing and claim to have acted within the law.
Pictured above: A group of protesters outside a Standard Bank building
Image source: Anita Dangazele
