Latest news with #Bougas
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
KleuterZone kingpin Anthonie Bougas sequestrated
Court documents show he used large sums of investor money to bankroll personal indulgences – including gambling, international travel and luxury vehicles. Anthonie Bougas, founder and director of the now-defunct KleuterZone franchise group, was officially sequestrated by the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday (3 June). The court granted the final sequestration order following an application by Mathys Krog Attorneys, acting on behalf of the joint liquidators of KleuterZone Operations – Rikus Hartman and Susan Lapoorta. The liquidation of KleuterZone Operations was made final on Wednesday 14 May. Bougas, along with his parents, fled South Africa for Bangkok on 23 February amid the collapse of the nationwide nursery school franchise. He did not oppose the sequestration of his personal estate. ALSO READ: KleuterZone CEO provisionally sequestrated The beginning of the end Moneyweb began probing KleuterZone after being approached by concerned investors who claimed to have been promised exceptionally high returns – sometimes up to 72% – on what was portrayed as a fast-growing national chain of nursery schools. Despite repeated requests, Bougas declined to provide financial statements, and it soon became apparent that the schools did not generate the income to support the investment returns promised. Moneyweb also uncovered that share certificates were issued for companies that didn't exist or whose registration numbers didn't match. Shortly after Moneyweb began publishing its articles, the scheme began to unravel as investors failed to receive the dividends they had been promised. Evidence from ongoing liquidation proceedings points to an operation resembling a Ponzi scheme, where funds from new investors were used to pay existing ones. ALSO READ: KleuterZone's collapse: Parents of founder also facing sequestration Gambling habit Court documents submitted by the liquidators further reveal that Bougas used large sums of investor money to bankroll personal indulgences, including gambling, international travel and luxury vehicles. According to a report by Rapport, Bougas channelled nearly R80 million through a gambling account, although the total amount may still rise as further bank statements are obtained. The elaborate corporate structure of KleuterZone, which included numerous subsidiaries and trading entities, allowed Bougas – who was the sole director – to transfer money between the businesses freely, including into his own personal accounts. This setup complicated the financial oversight and masked the redirection of funds. ALSO READ: Another KleuterZone company in provisional liquidation More to come In addition to Bougas's sequestration, the Western Cape High Court provisionally granted the sequestration of the joint estate of his parents, Rensche and Anton Bougas, who are married in community of property. The application, brought by Hannes Muller and Madelein Kuilder – the provisional liquidators of KleuterZone (Pty) Ltd – alleges that the Bougas parents acted in concert with their son in attracting investor funds under false pretences. In an affidavit, the liquidators argue that Rensche Bougas played a pivotal role in marketing the KleuterZone franchise and was key to sustaining the illusion of a thriving and profitable business. Meanwhile, the liquidation process continues to unfold. So far, three companies linked to the KleuterZone group have been placed in final liquidation. Two more are expected to return to court, on 4 and 11 June respectively. The sequestration of the estate of Kobus Schoeman, KleuterZone's former CEO, is also due for court consideration later this month. This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Investigators probe alleged overseas property purchases by KleuterZone's Bougas
Investigators are intensifying their efforts to trace Anthonie Bougas, founder of the now-liquidated KleuterZone preschool group, following allegations that he has purchased properties abroad using misappropriated investor funds. Bougas, who fled South Africa for Thailand in February, is believed to have acquired real estate in both Thailand and Dubai, prompting an international investigation involving Thai authorities and Interpol. Anthony Boucher of Specialised Security Services is an investigator, in conjunction with the well-known owner of the firm, Mike Bolhuis, on the case. Boucher confirmed to Rekord that the investigation is actively pursuing leads related to properties allegedly purchased by Bougas with funds from KleuterZone investors. 'We heard rumours about properties allegedly bought by Bougas overseas in countries such as Dubai, as well as rumours that assets were shifted from South Africa to other countries overseas. These rumours and information we received will be part of our investigation,' Boucher stated. Should these properties be confirmed, they would need to be disclosed to the liquidators overseeing KleuterZone's dissolution. The collaboration between South African investigators, Thai authorities, and Interpol aims to locate Bougas and determine the extent of his alleged financial misconduct. Boucher emphasised the importance of international co-operation in addressing such cross-border financial crimes. In addition to the property allegations, Anthonie and his brother, John, are facing criminal charges in South Africa for alleged intimidation and extortion related to their business activities. According to Boucher, when Anthonie faced financial difficulties, he allegedly tasked his brother with threatening individuals to comply with his demands for money. Their methods, according to Boucher, included hiring a security company to intimidate a victim. Both individuals are currently wanted by South African authorities for questioning in connection with several other criminal and civil proceedings. Another criminal case has been initiated at the SAPS Commercial Crimes Unit in Thabazimbi, with case number CAS 137/3/2025. Social media posts made by Bougas in February and March this year suggest he is aware of the allegations against him and the legal proceedings pending in South Africa. Boucher commented that 'Bougas is believed to have left South Africa for the sole purpose of obstructing and evading the course of justice'. He further stated that Bougas may be using forged documentation to conceal his identity in Thailand. He added that many of the affected investors reside in Pretoria and are also victims of other alleged illegal activities by Bougas. Investigators urge anyone with information about KleuterZone or the whereabouts of the Bougas brothers to contact Anthony Boucher at anthonyb@ Questions were posed to Anthony Bougas by Rekord, but no answers had been received at the time of publication. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
