Aussie circus act turns sour
TWO employees of an Australian circus currently touring South Africa, and which earlier this year visited Richards Bay, have been arrested and prevented from fleeing the country amid fraud investigations, and smuggling and human trafficking allegations.
The arrests were made last week by Pretoria SAPS, and the Department of Home Affairs reportedly revoked the duo’s visas.
A stolen truck was seized from their possession in Pretoria on the same night.
Allegations of human trafficking and smuggling are set to be pursued.
The story started unravelling after Corrie Pretorius of Northern Region Protection Services was approached by his client in the Richards Bay tourism industry, who was owed over R100 000 in unpaid accommodation bills by the circus.
Pretorius contacted the circus’ local agent, Bonginkosi Maphumulo, who by that stage had gone into hiding after getting himself in deep water through his dealings with the circus.
Maphumulo was originally employed in 2016 to transport circus equipment between tour venues around the country.
He was later asked to organise promoters and undertake promotions for upcoming tours.
In the beginning, Maphumulo was paid timeously and in accordance with their agreement, and later was offered a new life overseas.
‘This was an offer that I couldn’t resist so I grabbed the opportunity with both hands,’ he said.
‘But this never came about and when the circus went overseas, I was left in the lurch after I had quit my former job for the circus.’
New life
Things took a different turn when, according to Maphumulo, the circus boss approached him and again promised him a new life overseas if he would find gold, diamonds or platinum, and essentially smuggle it out of the country.
‘I was determined to get gold, diamonds or platinum and started going around talking to people trying to make contacts,’ said Maphumulo.
He even drove from Bloemfontein to Musina in an attempt to acquire the precious minerals.
Two years down the line and Maphumulo says he is owed R333 000 by the circus; performers are allegedly not paid regularly and the tourist visas on which they enter the country to work are reportedly kept by circus management along with their passports.
This is where the human trafficking allegations come in.
Apart from this, Maphumulo says hundreds of thousands of Rands have been transferred into and out of his bank account by circus management, causing him to be on SARS’ radar.
Maphumulo’s allegations against circus management do not end there.
He says they registered vehicles on his name and then changed registration without his consent; they harassed him into sending untaxed money abroad; they owe many people a lot of money and they used him for his BEE status.
Investigations are ongoing and the smuggling and trafficking allegations will be pursued.