The serene beauty of the Kruger National Park, a sanctuary for wildlife and a symbol of South Africa’s natural heritage, has been marred by a shocking tale of alleged theft and deception.
At the heart of this scandal is Amos Tineyi Kampinya, a Zimbabwean man who is wanted by the Hawks, South Africa’s elite crime-fighting unit, for allegedly stealing almost R1 million from the Mugg & Bean franchise in the Lower Sabie Rest Camp.
Kampinya, a former manager at the popular eatery, is accused of orchestrating a sophisticated scheme that involved falsifying invoices and siphoning off company funds. The Hawks allege that he stole a staggering R897 229, leaving a trail of financial chaos in his wake.
“It is further alleged that Kampinya stole the company funds amounting to R897,229 and disappeared,” said Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, Mpumalanga regional spokesperson for the Hawks.
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Adding to the intrigue, Kampinya is not alone in this alleged heist. He is believed to have been working in cahoots with Ronald Mankena Khoza, a 45-year-old South African man who was recently arrested by the Hawks and charged with theft and fraud.
Khoza is accused of authorizing cash payouts from daily sales, using false invoices to support the transactions and pocketing the money for his own gain.
“It is alleged that during July 2022, Khoza was employed by Gemla Holdings working at the Mugg & Bean franchise in the Lower Sabie Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park. The suspect authorized cash payouts from the cash money received from the daily sales,” said Sekgotodi.
“He attached false invoices in support of these cash payments, purporting to have been issued by SA Liquor Komatipoort for stock. The suspect appropriated the cash and used it for his own purposes. The value involved is R253,208.”
Khoza, who appeared in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, was released on R20 000 bail. His case was postponed to September 20.
Meanwhile, Kampinya has vanished, leaving a trail of unanswered questions and a sense of unease among those who knew him. The Hawks have launched a manhunt for the fugitive, releasing his photograph to the public and appealing for information regarding his whereabouts.
“A manhunt has been launched for Zimbabwean man, Amos Tineyi Kampinya, 44, who is wanted by the Hawks in connection with a fraud and theft case,” stated the Hawks.
The disappearance of Kampinya has sent ripples through the Kruger National Park, raising concerns about security and the vulnerability of businesses operating within the park’s confines. The alleged theft has also cast a shadow over the reputation of Mugg & Bean, a popular South African restaurant chain, raising questions about their internal controls and their ability to safeguard their assets.
The Hawks, determined to bring Kampinya to justice, have appealed to the public for their assistance. They have urged community members to come forward with any information that could lead to his arrest.
“Provincial head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Nicholas Gerber has appealed to Kampinya to come forward. Gerber also also urged community members to give information regarding Kampinya’s whereabouts by contacting the investigating officer, Captain Mandla Mphephethe on 071 481 3295,” said the Hawks.
The Hawks have assured the public that all information provided will be treated with the “strictest confidentiality.”