Issue # 135 - January, 2011 Discovery’s rude good health

Bennie Piek of Benoni took out a “Risk Transaction” with Discovery Life, which provided protection for death, disability, dread disease and loss of income. Piek made full disclosure of his visual impairment and lens implant, and his proposal was accepted and the policy came into force in February 2003. 

In April 2003 Piek submitted a claim under the “severe illness” component of his policy and was paid out. The policy was shut down after the pay-out and Piek applied for a new policy, which came into effect in August 2004. then the games began.

..more.. Same old bull

Rand Water bosses pull plug on unflatteing slide show.

According to figures in the chief executive’s slide show, the audited accounts of Rand Water are misleading when it comes to fees paid to non-executive directors at the Services subsidiary. The printout revealed that in fiscal 2009 non-executive directors at Services received R2.17m, whereas Rand Water’s 2009 annual report states they only got R746,000.

..more..Splash!

Witch-hunt to find out who sent seditious boardroom sms.

The anonymous sms rocketed around the cellphones of Rand Water’s main board. It read: “Colleagues, as we are aware that time is of essence, to move swiftly I propose the top five to be axed should be: Coovadia, Ellman, Maluleke, Makhesha & Petlane. if the need arise then Mdi & Prof. I await yr input.”

So incensed was outgoing chairperson Jean Ngubane that she ordered an internal forensic investigation to identify the sender.

..more..Crookery School

Cooked qualifications and a prospectus well-seasoned with half-truths provided the recipe for an unpalatable college.

“Dr” Herbert Derendinger’s Swiss Institute of Hospitality Training offered an 18-month diploma course and Robert Barnard signed up. The course brought plenty of irritation with little culinary expertise as the self-proclaimed professor turned out to be nothing more than a polished fraudster.

..more..Fingers in pies

Johan Swart, whose KZN ponzi scheme Exclusive Finance was exposed in nose133, is indeed still (as noseweek had heard) hanging out in Ballito and in the same line of business – working for Mr Dharshan Boodhram, who apparently sold Exclusive Finance to the Swarts in the first place.

..more..Nice try, SARU!

We reported in nose133 on controversy in the rugby players’ trade union, the South African Rugby Players’ Association (SARPA), involving CEO Piet Heymans. Heymans denied being in any way to blame, and said the decision to exclude SARPA had been taken by an anti-trade union SARU board member.

..more..Katz out of bag

In nose133, noseweek said Stephen (also called Steven) Powell had been the lead prosecutor in the prosecution of former Investec employee Laetitia Peyper. We also published that his ENS Forensic falls under Leonard Katz’s liquidation division. Both statements were wrong.

..more..At sea

Buying over the phone by telesale may prove a hazardous or even sorrowful affair. What exactly is promised, accepted and agreed? Insurance companies like Absa Life claim that their telesales pitches are always recorded. maybe – but in Andy du Toit’s experience, that’s no guarantee the bank won’t lie about it later.

..more..Things fall apart

Nico Nel has been unable to do his job for the past four months, on account of being put on “forced leave” by the mayor, Jan Jansen (formerly DA, now ID).why did Swellendam sack one of the Western Cape’s most competent officials?

..more.. Battling with medics as Discovery Health plays hardball

“thank you for calling Discovery; we may record this call to monitor the service we give you.” so says an automated voice says when you phone Discovery Health. in truth, this should be followed by: “We won’t give you a copy of the recording, especially if it shows we messed up.”

Rose Steyn (65) has been slugging it out with Discovery since 2008 and will not be bullied into signing blindly.

..more..You don’t REALLY need teeth

When Sarah’s bone structure had to be re-aligned: Discovery refused to pay for ‘cosmetic treatment’

Sarah was a Discovery Health member for 11 years and when she was involved in a nasty motor accident in Kwa-Zulu Natal, she suffered serious head injuries and facial trauma. Internal fixation plates and wires were used to keep her jaw closed, but it seems the work wasn’t done very well. when Sarah returned to Johannesburg she needed post-surgery care. This was deemed to be “cosmetic”.

..more..Mugabe, the male stripper and the millionaire’s mansion

A sneak peek at how the other half percent live and who is the immensely wealthy “very high level” individual from Zimbabwe who has made an offer of R80m for the fabulous Sandhurst mansion of the late cellphone mogul Miko Rwayitare?

..more..Law hammers Western Cape planners

Things are far from well in the Mother City’s Planning Department.

In a recent letter to the Atlantic Sun, Dr Patrick Morton says that the Camps Bay Residents & Ratepayers Association has brought no fewer than eight successful cases against the City’s Planning Department, and is currently involved in a further three cases. Morton speaks passionately of a “recurrent failure of the Planning Department of our City Council to provide the protection that all residential communities in our town not only deserve, but actually pay handsomely for with their rates”. 

..more..Good copyright, bad copyright

Scamming in the name of the Lord.

Now here’s a scam – the scam of scams. This is how it works: Select a business covered by laws few people understand, grace your company with the titles “Christian” and “International” and enlist a large law firm to administer threats to prosecute for non-compliance.

..more..BOOKS: Passion in suburbia ..more..Rhinos: the bloody end!

Beatrice Wiltshire deconstructs conservation

..more..Burn, bokkie, burn!

Beatrice Wiltshire deconstructs conservation

..more..STENT:Wikileaks ..more..