EMALAHLENI- Trucks businessman, Sambulo “Sam Holdings” Chabalala has gone AWOL and sent a “suicide note” to his wife, Lerato Legodi, and to some of his employees claiming that his life was in danger.
Chabalala who, according to the letter sent to his wife on 3 March, said he never wronged anyone and does not know what he has done to deserve this. He is a wanted man after a warrant of arrest was issued on Friday, 6 March when he failed to appear in the Witbank Magistrate’s Court on the same day in connection with charges of corruption, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, illegal entry and remaining within the borders of South Africa, and providing false information to be granted entry into the country.
He also lied about his true identity and name of Gilbert Tachuona and that he was a Zimbabwean national.
He was out on bail of R200, 000, which was granted in September last year and was also on R500, 000 bail on a separate matter and faces charges of corruption and bribery after he allegedly attempted to bribe a senior police officer to return his vehicle and make his docket disappear in the initial case.
Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said Chabalala failed to show up in court and there was a warrant of arrest that has been issued against his name. “We have instituted investigation to track him down. We appeal to the law-abiding citizens to contact their nearest police stations or Captain Dietlof Meyer on 071 481 2977. All information will be kept confidential,” Mulaudzi said.
Chabalala wrote to his wife that, “My worry is I never wrong anyone, or steal from anyone on this country, what really have I done to deserve this? Sam Holdings I started it from nothing with the help of no one, but now it’s clearly that my business and success is the source of all my current problems I’m facing. I am not worried about the court cases but the incident that happened on Sunday it’s clear that this people are really out to kill me.”
He added, “They failed to keep me in jail now they come straight to kill me. The people I used to call my friends and I did help them are the ones destroying me right now”
One of Chabalala’s employees whose name could not be disclosed here told Highveld Chronicle that, “we held a meeting with his wife Lerato Legodi and we were told not go back to work until 16 March. We are all worried about our jobs if we are going to remain unemployed or the depot be closed,” he said.
