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It’s often said that you shouldn’t borrow money from friends, and I agree.

However, given the option of borrowing from a friend, or borrowing from an individual who has links with the Terrible Josters gang, you should always choose the friend.

Some of the Terrible Josters’ top brass were recently locked up, although the extensive reach and membership (rumoured to be around 10 000) make it one of the region’s most feared gangs.

A 28-year-old Cape Town businessman has detailed the horrors that followed after he borrowed R3,4 million from a man connected with the criminal underworld last year, with terms dictating that he would pay back R4,5 million over a period of five to 10 years.

The Daily Maverick reports that the businessman was unaware that the loan “originated in the underworld”, and things were fine until December, when a lump sum payment of R1,2 million was ‘requested’

The ‘request’ came with threats, extortion, an assault, and a kidnapping, so perhaps calling it a demand is more on point.

The businessman, given the fake name ‘Keith’ as the investigation is ongoing and he is now in hiding, gave a statement to the Hawks yesterday.

He outlined how on December 3, 2019, the payment was demanded, and when he couldn’t produce the money, he handed over the keys to his Audi.

The intimidation and threats continued through to February, and late in the month it really came to a head:

Keith could not come up with the amount and on 28 February the man and eight gang members pulled up at Keith’s workshop.

“I was told to get into the passenger seat, with the Terrible Josters gang member taking the wheel while two others sat in the back of the car. He took my phone, forced me to give my password and fingerprint to unlock the phone as well as my banking app to see where I might have some money available.”

A fellow gang member held a pistol to his head and struck him repeatedly.

“After driving around for about 15 minutes I was dropped at my workshop and told the R1.2-million must be ready by 5pm. My employees were traumatised seeing me returning with a bleeding ear and swollen face,” Keith said.

Keith paid what he could, but still fell short, and was summoned to a meeting on March 21.

The gang member was present, as was his father, allegedly a corrupt police colonel who works as a link between the SAPS, gangs, and companies used for money laundering.

Communities living in fear have spoken extensively about the links between powerful members of law enforcement and the Terrible Josters.

Finally, in April, Keith opened a case at the Durbanville police station, with the matter transferred to the Hawks for further investigation.

All in all, a terrifying ordeal, and one that he was probably fortunate to survive, given the gang’s reputation.

You can read Keith’s full account here.

[source:dailymaverick]