Mbombela lodge manager in hot water over fraud and theft charges
The allegations which led to Hattingh's arrest stem from January after he was appointed to the position at Kayalami Lodge.
A local lodge manager, Rhodes Hattingh (39), was arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit in Mbombela.
He appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on charges of fraud and theft. The allegations which led to Hattingh’s arrest stem from January after he was appointed to the position at the lodge.
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He is alleged to have submitted false invoices from fictitious suppliers for non-existent services.
According to the Capt Dineo Sekgotodi of the Mpumalanga Hawks, he would pocket the funds by transferring them into his personal bank account.
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“Following the Hawks’ investigation, Hattingh was served with a court summons on July 24, culminating in his recent court appearance,” she said.
The case was postponed to September 18.
*Note: The police has identified the complainant in this case as Kyalami Lodge, the entity that, according to the SAPS, employed the accused. The SAPS has stated same in a media statement available here: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=27672&fbclid=IwAR2xp4m6jRq8jsLLRHfj23w8lWvhvKo31m8Q15hwUOencOux9NMYvHbBLo4
Khayalami Botique Hotel/Khayalami Hotel Group/Khayalami Lodge, a different entity located in Van Wijk Street in Mbombela, has since made contact with Lowvelder.
Although their brand name is spelled differently and this indicates that they are not the establishment referred to in the report above, it is herewith explicitly stated that Kyalami Lodge on the one hand, and Khayalami Boutique Hotel/Khyalami Lodge, on the other hand, are two different places.
