A MAN who allegedly pocketed more than R60-million with a bogus ‘transport business opportunity’ advertised on Gumtree, will appear in Commercial Crimes Court on 21 November.
Terrance Govender (33), also known as ‘Titus’, faces 67 counts of fraud after he allegedly baited investors with promises of passive monthly income of as much as R80 000 through ‘excellent, well serviced and maintained trucks with transport hire agreements’.
He was arrested by Richards Bay detectives W/O Reddy and W/O Gouden in May last year after he fled from Richards Bay to Durban to avoid arrest.
He allegedly also operated from a business premises in Alton and several of the complainants are Richards Bay residents.
But, as the investigation continues, more complaints are surfacing.
One of the complainants from the Cape (name withheld), told the Zululand Observer that Govender and others, who she says acted with him, robbed her of R150 000 in pension savings which she ‘invested’ in August 2013.
She and three others even hired a private detective to trace his whereabouts, without success.
‘They are smooth talking, well versed, professionals who con hard-working and gullible people such as myself.
‘All of his references and financial advisors vouched for him.’
In loan agreements concluded with investors, his businesses were described as ‘T.A.S.A Limited’, ‘TTT Trucks and Autoworx’ and a ‘streetcar racing modification and fitment business’.
The ‘business’ boasted helping investors to become transporters or truckers in ‘three simple steps’.
The elaborate scheme promised assistance in the supply of truck horses ‘invoiced, licenced and registered to the buyer’, signing of transport hire agreements ‘legally drawn up by attorneys’ and ‘genuine guarantees, sureties and monthly payment’.
But instead of earning big profits, complainants from all over the country lost everything.
‘He destroyed many families with his cunning schemes.
‘I just want justice served for me and the rest of the innocent families who invested with him.’
The investigation continues as more charges are being added.
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