Fired Ukhozi FM presenter Sbu Buthelezi has finally addressed allegations he scammed people out of hefty amounts of money through his poultry investment scheme.
Buthelezi is accused of scamming the Msibi family in Nquthu, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), out of R600 000 through his poultry investment scheme called Abombuso Investment. The agreement was that the investors would sell chickens and eggs for 100 percent returns after three months. However, this allegedly did not happen.
Speaking on Facebook, Buthelezi denied claims that he started his business, Abombuso Poultry Farm, to scam people. He said that the aim was to have a big joint business with them.
“I started Abombuso in 2014 and wished to have 15 fully operational companies after 10 years. I was inspired by the Bidwest company because I liked the way they do their things as a group of companies.
“Abombuso Poultry Farm, a subsidiary of Abombuso Investment Group, is the one which had bad luck. I think it is because it was growing fast, and it faced many challenges,” he said.
He reiterated that although many people believe there was no company at all, it did exist. He said the company failed because he did not run it alone.
“People failed me. The truth must be known. I invited them to the Royal hotel telling them about the idea of the company and I told them that if they agree I will register a company and go to lawyers with them to do a memorandum of incorporation,” he said.Buthelezi explained that he registered the company in 2021 and it was successful in 2022.
“I wanted all of them to be shareholders in the company. As Abombuso we thought that we will be a respected poultry farmer in Mzansi.
“We faced many challenges; we had a good idea. It is not over to me, and I will still go back because there are many people who still support me,” he said.
As a results of these scamming accusations and more from other Ukhozi FM listeners, the SABC radio station fired Buthelezi for bringing the station into disrepute last year. He hosted the gospel show, Indumiso, on Sundays.
Buthelezi’s fans from the show have since started crowdfunding to help him pay back the money.
“It’s true that some people are supporting me, and they remembered that even though my business didn’t go according to my plans, I served people in a good way when I worked for Ukhozi FM for 14 years.
“I worked for Ukhozi FM with integrity, but I was fired because of my company, and I will explain that another day,” he said.Last month, the businessman was captured and his parents’ home in Nkandla, KZN, vandalised by an anti-crime forum called Isikebhe which forced entry. The former radio presenter was said to have been hiding in the house when the incident took place. He was accused by the vigilante group of dodging three meetings with them.
In a recording after he was nabbed, Buthelezi said: “I promised that on 30 June, I will pay half of the amount that I owe them, then I will pay the balance on 15 July. I will deposit it in the Isikebhe bank account.”