A 40-year-old man, Francois Swart, has been granted R10,000 bail following his appearance in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. Swart handed himself over to the police in connection with a fraudulent scheme involving travel vouchers sold through his company, Priority Escape.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, more commonly known as the Hawks, detailed that Swart allegedly offered holiday packages for trips to the Maldives, with clients paying large sums of money into the account of his company. However, when the time came for the customers to embark on their planned trips, they discovered that Priority Escape had ceased operations, and their payments were never refunded.
Colonel Katlego Mogale, spokesperson for the Hawks, confirmed that the investigation revealed Swart had used over R2.1 million deposited by clients for personal gain. The fraud had affected many holidaymakers, leaving them without the trips they had paid for and no recourse to recover their money.
Swart had been on the radar of authorities for several months, with reports dating back to December 2023. At that time, police in Limpopo intensified their search for Swart, who was accused of defrauding holiday companies in Modimolle of millions of rands. The alleged fraudulent activities involved payments from two companies, which were deceived out of more than R130,000 by Priority Escape.
The police had issued a warrant for Swart’s arrest, and the case was initially opened at the Modimolle police station in August 2023. Swart, the managing director of Priority Escape, was ultimately located and turned himself in to face the charges.
The case continues to unfold, with Swart scheduled to appear in court again on April 2, 2025, as the investigation into his alleged fraudulent activities continues.
