In a bizarre comparison that’s turning heads, alleged diamond scam mastermind Louis Liebenberg has defended gifting a diamond to Deputy President Paul Mashatile, likening the gesture to “giving flowers to my grandmother.” Liebenberg made the comment while speaking to journalists outside the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates Court following the postponement of his bail application.
The self-styled businessman, who faces over 50 charges alongside his wife and seven co-accused, is at the centre of a mammoth alleged R4 billion diamond investment scam. Authorities claim he lured unsuspecting investors with the promise of lucrative returns, which never materialised.
Representing himself in court, Liebenberg insisted he’s the target of unfair treatment, accusing prison officials, court personnel, and the media of prejudice against him. He has denied any wrongdoing, painting himself as a misunderstood entrepreneur rather than a fraudster.
The case, which has rocked public trust in high-value investment schemes, continues to draw national attention—not only for the scale of alleged losses but for the political shadows it appears to cast.
