Presidential hopeful and fraud accused Sandile Shezi was spotted shopping up a storm in Hyde Park on Tuesday amid a pending R1.2-million forex scam case.
Shezi, who is out on R20 000 bail, is expected to appear at the Wynberg magistrate’s court on July 7 for allegedly defrauding victims including a retired school principal of monies through his forex trading company Global Forex Institute.
Sunday World saw the pictures and a video of Shezi and a friend arriving at a luxury Hyde Park corner shopping centre and making their way to the costly A2 store at the mall for a shopping spree.
A bystander said Shezi appeared in good spirits as he was driving a posh Mercedez-Benz and clad in his new party Vuka Ma-Africa T-shirt, blue jeans and a black shoes.
The bystander said: “I was shocked when I saw him. He looked at me and I looked at him, and I was asking myself what could he be doing here shopping at this expensive shop while he owes people so much money and is wanted for scamming people. I didn’t realise he is out on bail.”
The bystander added that after parking at the mall, Shezi proceeded to the store for shopping.
“They went to A2 and started shopping. I am not sure what they bought but that is not a small boys’ shop. It is expensive.”
In April, Shezi handed himself over to the police in Sandton, a week after launching his new political party.
This is in connection to a case of fraud opened in Sandton in 2022, after he allegedly defrauded a retired principal of R1.2-million pension payout, which was deposited into his account as an investment in his company.
The flamboyant businessman reportedly made arrangements to pay back the principal in tranches of R10 000 a week from November 2022, but only managed to make one payment before pleading poverty.
After seeing videos of Shezi living his best life in Hyde Park, the heartbroken principal revealed that he has not received a penny back or any communication from the presidential hopeful.
“He has not said a word to me about my money and no communication has come forward from him or his people. At this point, I am just sitting and hoping the law will take it’s course,” the principal, who asked not to be named for fear of humiliation, said.
Shezi is expected back in court in June for the start of his trial.
During the announcement of his newly formed party, he said he was looking forward to being the country’s youngest president.
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