Louis Tshakoane and his son, held over fraud after four years as fugitives, were allegedly harboured by the self-proclaimed prophet in Malawi and South Africa. (Lee Warren/Gallo Images)
Former Kaizer Chiefs communicator Louis Tshakoane, who was arrested on Tuesday after being on the run for four years over a multimillion-rand fraud scheme, is thought to have been in Malawi.
A source, close to the investigation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said investigators believe Tshakoane, his wife and their son — who are suspected of swindling investors out of millions — were being sheltered in Malawi by self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri, himself a fugitive from the law.
Tshakoane was arrested in Tshwane, Gauteng, after speaking at the funeral service of Alex “Goldfingers” Shakoane, who was the public relations officer for football team Mamelodi Sundowns.
Tshakoane, his wife Komane Suzen Tshakoane and their son, also Louis Tshakoane, have been wanted by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) since May 2019 for allegedly running an illegal investment scheme known as Undercover Billionaires.
The Mail & Guardian has established that Tshakoane’s son was also arrested on Tuesday and is in custody with his father.
When the Tshakoanes fled, Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu, who was Hawks spokesperson, stated that, between 2014 and 2018, the family had allegedly duped “unsuspecting funders” into investing in Undercover Billionaires.
“Further investigations revealed that the family’s company was not registered with the Financial Sector Conduct Authority. Investors were lured with promises of higher than normal returns on their capital, which they ultimately lost,” Mulamu, adding that Tshakoane junior was the first suspect the authorities had probed.
“Further investigations have implicated both his parents, and when attempts were made to get them to account, it soon became clear that they were absconding. Hence, warrants for their arrest have been issued.”
Tshakoane junior, who was arrested in 2017, disappeared while on trial in May 2019.
Speaking on Tuesday, the source said investigators believe the family had hidden in both Malawi and in South Africa, sheltered by Bushiri.
Bushiri fled South Africa for his home country in November 2020 after the Pretoria magistrate’s court granted him and his wife Mary bail on charges of fraud and money laundering involving more than R100 million.
“The son was very close to Bushiri. Suspicion is that they were in Malawi or in Rustenburg in a hotel owned by Bushiri,” said the source. Bushiri owns the Sparkling Waters Hotel and Spa in Rustenburg, North West.
Tshakoane senior was a communicator for Kaizer Chiefs, well-known for revving up the Amakhosi faithful before and during games. Tshakoane, with the late Shakoane and Abdul Bhamjee, is credited with pioneering the South African football communication industry, driving up attendance numbers at stadiums.
Respected sports broadcaster Robert Marawa expressed shock at the manner of Tshakoane’s arrest, writing on Twitter: “One of the craziest things I’ve witnessed. Straight after he spoke so well at the podium.”