Frank Buyanga
| Businessman Frank Buyanga | |
|---|---|
 Frank Buyanga | |
| Born | Tawanda Buyanga September 14, 1979 United Kingdom |
| Nationality | Zimbabwe |
| Occupation |
|
| Parent(s) | Frank Buyanga and Martha Gorogodo |
Frank Buyanga Sadiqi is a businessman who has been rated as one of the youngest millionaires in South Africa. He has claimed that he doesn't know exactly how many cars and businesses he owns.
Background
Frank Buyanga was born Tawanda Buyanga on 14 September 1979 in the United Kingdom. It was allegedly reported that he changed his name in 2012 to conceal his identity after he was listed by the International Police's (Interpol) list of wanted people.[1] He thus began to call himself Frank Buyanga Sadiq in 2009. From then onwards, Tawanda Buyanga began to call himself Frank Buyanga of which this was his father's name.[1] His mother was Martha Gorogodo.
Events
Fraud Allegations
In 2011, Buyanga relocated to South Africa after he was allegedly charged of defrauding more than 45 people in Zimbabwe through his company, Hamilton Property Holdings. In the previous year, Buyanga had stepped down as the director of Hamilton Property Holdings on the basis that his company was now attracting the attention of the police and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).[2] Buyanga's stance further compounded that he was somehow trying to flee from his purported fraud charges. It was also revealed that Buyanga in 2005 was charged for conspiring to defraud an unidentified person in UK.[2] He however dispelled this story.
Buyanga lent money to people during the period of turmoil in Zimbabwe which saw the country's economy crumbling to unprecedented levels. Those who went to Buyanga were obliged to give in their properties as collateral. Buyanga is said to have sold the properties before the loan agreements had expired. His company was thus charged for deliberately lending large sums of money to Zimbabweans as a way of getting hold of their properties earmarked to be disposed afterwards. The Attorney General however filed an application in the High Court seeking to interdict Buyanga's company from selling 45 properties.[2] This was overridden.
It later emerged that, Buyanga's troubles began to resurface when the brother of a senior cabinet's minister's girlfriend who had borrowed money from Hamilton Holdings Property committed suicide after he discovered that he was not able to pay back the money he had borrowed of which he had pledged his sister's house as collateral.[2] It was also reported that, Buyanga was about to sue Nicholas Goche who had also borrowed US$70 000 from his company and was unwilling to pay back.[2]
In 2013, Buyanga hired a top Israeli lawyer, Nick Kaufman who argued that his client doesn't have a case to answer in Zimbabwe despite charges of allegedly swindling people of more than US$4 million. He also stated that, Buyanga had relocated to South Africa, a country which was offering him the rights and liberties he was denied in Zimbabwe, dispelling that he was running away from being prosecuted.[3] Whilst he was still being investigated for his crimes, in October 2014 it was reported that Buyanga was negotiating with the owners of Cell Funeral Assurance Company to either have a stake or to buy the company.[4]
Buyanga was however cleared by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) who argued that he was not involved in shady businesses as was previously reported.[4] He was also removed from the International Police list of wanted people.
The Rolls Royce Debacle
In a legal battle with South African authorities involving a Rolls Royce vehicle, Buyanga managed to repossess the car after it had been impounded and auctioned without due process. South African authorities impounded the car on the grounds that it had been reported stolen and that there were no proper documents for its importation. The matter eventually came to finality after Buyanga manged to prove that he had followed stipulated procedures, a position that was also confirmed by the company from which the vehicle had been purchased.[5]
Trivia
Buyanga was one of the judges at the 2014 edition of the Miss Zimbabwe Pageant.[6] He also dines with the former Malawian president, Bakili Muluzi and Theodoro Obiang Nguema Bassongo of Equatorial Guinea. He stated that,
Muluzi is like a father figure. We have known each other for a while. My dad is late now and l need someone who can advise me on the way forward in life[2]
He also claims that Nicholas van Hoogstraden (who is believed to have been donating money to Robert Mugabe) is his mentor, friend and advisor.[2]
Philanthropic Work
Buyanga is said to be on a relentless mission of dishing out money in South Africa, something that he was reportedly denied to do in Zimbabwe. He donated R1 million to a youth development programme.[7]
Seizure of Gold Coins By SARS
On 26 October 2020, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) seized gold coins weighing over 565 kilogrammes. Buyanga said the Kruger coins were worth R600 million or US$40 million at the time.
Apart from the coins, SARS also seized personal jewellery, watches, and cellphones when they raided the home of Buyanga's girlfriend Melinda Busi Dube in Hyde Park .
In a court application, Buyanga said the coins are part of trading stock for his African Medallion Group (AMG). He alleged that SARS refused to meet him and his lawyers to discuss the seizure of the Kruger coins.[8]
Sale of Mansion
In April 2021, Buyanga put one of his mansions in Hyde Park, an exclusive neighbourhood in Johannesburg, up for sale for R18 million (US$1.23 million).
Buyanga did not live in the house which was being used by his girlfriend. Numerous reports argues that the decision to sell was a signal that Buyanga had hit hard times.
The property, at 64 1st Road in Hyde Park, was listed for sale on the Property24 website on 11 November 2020 just days after the SARS raid. At the time of the reports in April 2021 the mansion had not found a buyer yet.
Estate agents Knightsbridge Properties said the seven-bedroom house, situated on 4,000sqm of prime real estate, “epitomises the ultimate in luxurious living.”
The house boasts a patio which runs the length of the house, four automated garages, double staff quarters, a cottage, a swimming pool, a gazebo and six bathrooms – four of them en suite.[9]
Arrest by Interpol
On 10 November 2022, Buyanga was arrested by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) South Africa at the Michael Angelo Hotel in Sandton on allegations of kidnapping and contempt of court charges.[10]
He was locked up at Sun City Prison in South Africa.
South Africa Police Services (SAPS) spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe, said:
Interpol South Africa through the assistance of the South African Police Service’s National Intervention Unit (NIU) have during an early morning raid arrested a 43- year-old businessman at an upmarket hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg. Zimbabwean Businessman Frank Buyanga Sadiqi is wanted by the Zimbabwean authorities for kidnapping, robbery and three counts of contempt of court.
Cancellation of Arrest Warrant
On 14 November 2022, Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga cancelled the warrant of arrest that had been issued against Buyanga. She admitted that she issued it erroneously.[11]
State Appeals Cancellation of Arrest Warrant
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) applied to the High Court challenging the cancellation of a warrant of arrest for Buyanga by Harare provincial magistrate, Judith Taruvinga.
Prosecutor-General Nelson Mutsonziwa was seeking to have the High Court set aside Taruvinga’s judgment, arguing that the warrant was cancelled without following due process.
The matter was set to be heard on 21 November 2022 at the High Court before Justice Pisirayi Kwenda.[12]
There were already two other warrants of arrest against Buyanga — one issued by High Court judge Justice David Mangota and the other by Justice Jacob Manzunzu.
In November 2022, the High Court set aside the cancellation of a warrant of arrest for South Africa-based Zimbabwean businessman Frank Buyanga Sadiqi. This result came after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of Zimbabwe applied for a review of Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga’s ruling that cancelled the warrant of arrest earlier in November. [13]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Buyanga changed name, The Herald, published:2 Mar 2012,retrieved:21 January 2015"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Hoogstraten gave me US$25 million: Buyanga, New Zimbabwe, published:14 May 2012,retrieved:21 January 2015"
- ↑ Paul Nyakazeya, Buyanga Not A Fugitive : Lawyer, The Financial Gazette, published:16 Aug 2013,retrieved:21 January 2015"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Loan shark Buyanga cleared by police, Nehanda Radio, published:19 Jan 2015,retrieved:21 January 2015"
- ↑ Buyanga thumbs his nose at SA authorities, Nehanda Radio, Published: June 28, 2015, Retrieved: June 29, 2015
- ↑ Miss Zim: Buyanga steps out with brunette, New Zimbabwe, published:16 Jun 2014,retrieved:21 January 2015"
- ↑ Buyanga dishes out money in SA, The Standard, published:12 May 2013,retrieved:1 January 2015"
- ↑ https://www.zimlive.com/2020/11/30/sars-seizes-us40-million-gold-coins-from-frank-buyanga-court-hears/
- ↑ Frank Buyanga hit the hard times as he puts mansion for sale, The Zimbabwe Mail, Published: April 13, 2021, Retrieved: April 18, 2021
- ↑ Zim businessman Frank Buyanga arrested in South Africa, Crime Reporter, Published: 10 November 2022, Retrieved 22 November 2022
- ↑ Buyanga’s Interpol warrant of arrest cancelled, Desmond Chingarande, Published: 15 November 2022, Retrieved 22 November 2022
- ↑ Buyanga’s NPA challenges cancellation of Buyanga’s arrest warrant, Staff Reporter, Published: 21 November 2022, Retrieved 22 November 2022
- ↑ High Court Reinstates Warrant Of Arrest For Frank Buyanga, Pindula, Published: 1 December 2022, Retrieved: 1 December 2022
