Prophet Vusi Tladi has denied that he is a con artist, saying he’s willing to pay back money to a couple after allegedly disappearing with R85,000 for their wedding decor.
Tladi, who is the owner of Morwaseepe The Planner, was paid R85,000 by Londiwe Mbokazi and Puseletso Seleka. The money was for decorations for their wedding.
Tladi and his team, however, did not show up for the wedding, which was scheduled for June 15 in Limpopo.
Pastor blocked all communication with them on eve of wedding
The couple said Tladi blocked them on all communications a day before their wedding. This left them stranded and in panic mode.
Mbokazi said: “We had planned a wedding for June 15 and paid R85,000 to Morwaseepe, the planner. However, he failed to deliver on his services.
“On Friday, he was meant to come and set up for the wedding, but he blocked us and never came. If anyone has information on where we can find him, please assist us. We are looking to go the legal route,” Mbokazi said.
Speaking to Sunday World on Wednesday, Tladi said he welcomes all attempts by the couple to go the legal route. This is because he would like to file his own case for defamation of character.
Accused says he was scammed by subcontractor himself
The Burgersfort-based prophet said he did not scam the couple, but was instead a victim of an organised scam himself. This was because the people he had subcontracted to do the job disappeared on him.
“The way things are now, it’s out of hand because they have [gone] all over social media and the press, calling me a scam. So, I am waiting for them to open a case. And then as advised by my lawyer, I will also respond with my own case,” he said.
He added that he has lost a lot of customers since the couple posted the allegations on social media.
He blocked communication as he was at an emergency spiritual retreat
“I know that I have done a mistake, but I was also wronged by the people that I have subcontracted. [There was] an emergency that weekend and I had to attend to my spiritual matters. I gave the job to someone else and paid them. This as I was not aware that they had set a trap for me to sabotage me. They didn’t attend the gig.
“I have asked my lawyers to chase those companies I have subcontracted. They will pay my money back. I want to pay the couple back as well. But how am I going to do that when they have already destroyed my name like this?” he said.
He added that he made a mistake but believes that the couple should have gone the legal route and not destroyed his name in public.
He is threatening to sue the couple for defamation
“Calling me a scam is where they have had it wrong. I have hosted a lot of weddings before. Some I even charged around R2-million. So why would I scam anyone of R85,000?” he added.
He said that he was unable to communicate with the couple because phones were not allowed where he was. This is where he went to attend to his spiritual emergency.
In a statement released by the couple, they say their day was saved by good Samaritans. They donated their resources to help with the wedding.
“We were devastated and felt utterly hopeless when we realised we had been scammed. The support we received from the SA Events Group, Rešoketšwe, Mahlatse, and Reineth was nothing short of miraculous. They turned our nightmare into a dream come true,” they said.
