GOOD accuses JP Smith of misleading residents over Cape Town animal by-law
GOOD has accused Cape Town safety MMC JP Smith of misleading residents about proposed animal-keeping rules, including permits, searches without warrants, penalties and requirements for pet-grooming businesses.
Bonita Swart, a wedding planner from Gansbaai, has been arrested and charged with two counts of fraud in Cape Town. According to the National Prosecuting Authority, Swart is accused of scamming several clients and causing disruptions to their wedding plans. The case was first reported after multiple complaints surfaced about Swart's business last year, leading to fraud cases being opened against her.
One notable case involves a couple from Elsies River, Shiney Richardson and Rudy Koopstadt, who had their dream wedding plans at the Ou Stal wedding venue in Stellenbosch shattered. They alleged that they lost R48,000 after meeting with Swart, who initially quoted them R53,000 for their wedding, including decor, venue, food, a free photo booth, and greenery.
Swart offered a R5,000 discount as part of a Black Friday special, but Richardson explained that she was supposed to pay the full amount of R48,000. However, Swart later announced that she had declared bankruptcy, which caused further complications for the couple. They eventually discovered that Swart had claimed bankruptcy in December and was unable to fulfill her promises.
Following this incident, more couples came forward with similar allegations against Swart. In April, Swart responded by offering to make monthly payments, but Richardson and Koopstadt opened a fraud case at Pinelands police station. Police confirmed that the case was transferred to the Senior Public Prosecutor for a decision, with a formal bail application set for 10 September 2026.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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