A well-known businessman is fighting his nephew over the cash inheritance from his late sister.
The businessman Yusuf Cassiem has filed an application at the Small Claims Court (SCC) in Bloemfontein, Free State, against nephew Darren De Villiers to pay an amount of R20 000 he stole from his late sister.
Cassiem claimed his sister, who died of dementia last year, instructed her daughter to transfer the amount to him.
He said De Villiers was the one who was assigned to transfer the money but instead, he kept it and sent a fraudulent proof of payment.
Cassiem said De Villiers was also appointed to handle the finances.
De Villiers is a pastor of Apostolic Church in Bloemfontein.
However, De Villiers declined to comment. He also indicated that he was shocked that his uncle, Cassiem, contacted the newspaper to resolve the matter.
Cassiem said he was shocked when De Villiers cried during his sister’s funeral knowing that he stole R20 000.
He said his sister offered him the amount after he made sure that her disability claim was approved.
He said she received more than R400 000.
“I said the family must handle the financials,” said Cassiem.
In the application, Cassiem claimed the sum of R20 000 that was paid to his banking account in order to transfer to him. He said the money was paid in June 2023.
Cassiem told the court that De Villiers sent his sister’s daughter a fraudulent screenshot confirming that a payment was made to him, but no payment has been received.
Cassiem also threatened that he would file an application seeking to bar De Villiers from conducting business and serving as a director should he fail to pay the amount.
He told the Sunday Independent that De Villiers also informed the family that the banker transferred the R20 000 to him.
He said this added that De Villiers was using the name of the bank fraudulently.
He said De Villiers also informed him that he would check with the banker to enquire what happened to the payment but he never answered his calls and messages.