From a report compiled by Lauren Cohen
Published: 13 Apr 2008
Online at The Times
Two loud parties where booze flowed freely have been held at a luxury hotel and spa that is supposed to be off-limits to the public after being shut down by curators investigating the Fidentia scandal.
A LIST OF THE PARTYGOERS’ NAMES, ID NUMBERS
AND CAR REGISTRATIONS WAS COMPILED BY POLICE
BEFORE THE REVELLERS WERE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE PROPERTY
Three months after the first bash, Fidentia curators are still unable to explain how the revelry was allowed at the Santé Winelands Hotel in the Paarl-Franschhoek valley. Santé was owned by the financial services group Fidentia but it is now under the care of curators’ attorney DINES GIHWALA and forensic accountant GEORGE PAPADAKIS.
Loud music alerted homeowners near the property to a party being thrown last month at the spa’s swimming pool.Installed at huge cost, the heated indoor pool features multi-height body jets, neck massage and counter-current resistance swimming.Resident Jadrick Coetzee said he saw about 20 people in the spa and swimming pool.“A man called Sakhumzi Mpayipheli told me he was in charge and that he worked for JULIAN JONES (an attorney at Hofmeyr Herbstein & Gihwala).
[Note: Former Fidentia employees can confirm it is an open secret that within weeks of joining the Fidentia Curators team in Feb 2007, Mr JULIAN JONES snapped up a great curator's perk. He started banging one of Fidentia's doe-eyed receptionists.]
Speaking about the Santé party, Western Cape police spokesman, ANDRÉ TRAUT, said: “We attended the scene, but no case docket was registered. The trespassers were officially warned to leave the area.”
Speaking from Norway this week, Gihwala was adamant a police investigation was under way, but refused to continue talking because of high international call charges. [Now, there's a laugh]
One of the partygoers, Khayelihle Buthelezi, said: “It was just a party, an honest party. We wanted to be away from Cape Town on that particular day, and it was free. It was a party with some guys from Telkom’s engineering division... My understanding is one of the guys is one of the investigators in the Fidentia (case). He’s the one who organised the keys and everything. The pool was bubbling, we put our bar out and had a good time. The place was empty.”
Previously, on New Year’s Day, a former Santé employee who is now hotel manager, Tommy Fortuin, held a braai for 17 of his friends. According to a complaint letter, “Estate residents complained about the noise and, on inspection, a security officer found Mr Fortuin drunk and asleep at the pool while his guests were having a party in the pool. He was so drunk he could not speak or stand up.”Fortuin denied all. “I don’t drink.” Yet Fortuin was the only person with keys to the building, but would not explain how partygoers gained entrance.
Previously, on New Year’s Day, a former Santé employee who is now hotel manager, Tommy Fortuin, held a braai for 17 of his friends. According to a complaint letter, “Estate residents complained about the noise and, on inspection, a security officer found Mr Fortuin drunk and asleep at the pool while his guests were having a party in the pool. He was so drunk he could not speak or stand up.”Fortuin denied all. “I don’t drink.” Yet Fortuin was the only person with keys to the building, but would not explain how partygoers gained entrance.
Papadakis says he has no knowledge of the parties, despite an email from the homeowners’ association sent to him on April 2. Papadakis has confirmed Fidentia staff enjoyed a year-end lunch at the spa last year.
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