****, PLEASE BE AWARE!!!!!

By way of introduction I am Luca, an Italo/South African guy. I was born in Johannesburg and lived my life between SA, Botswana and Italy. I came back to SA 7 years ago, where I decided to start an incredible adventure: opening my own restaurant. Unfortunately, I am about to leave the country (as I will need to relocate back to Europe).

My friend Thembani and I were de*****ed while doing a project with the Black Economic Empowerment fund (NEFcorp), by an agent, and we’d want to warn everyone and avoid them to make our same mistake. We thought we’d found the best option: selling my restaurant to Themba through public funds. Themba would have his life chance, and I could leave the country doing something great for my friend. Thembani and I became friends 7 years ago, when I bought Frida’s on Bree, a cafeteria that I turned into an Italian Osteria. He was part of the staff, and we suddenly started getting along. He is one of the most talented guys in the kitchen I have ever met. I’ve always thought he would have an incredible career, and I still believe it, despite all the difficulties his life faces every day. He worked for me for many years, until he decided to follow his girlfriend and son to Herm**** and started pursuing other opportunities. A few months ago, a friend of mine told me about the possibility to sell the restaurant via the NEFcorp funds (Black Economic Enterprises) – basically the government would fund your project and support a black South African in buying and conducting it. It seemed like a dream: I could relocate back to Europe, selling my business to Thembani. He could start his own restaurant, as he’s always dreamed of. I’d be the advisor of the business for the first months, teaching him how to run it properly. We met Marc Isaacs, who presents himself as an official agent that assists in the processes of fundraising with the Government agencies. He was managing different applications at that time. Our “working relationship” lasted 4 months, where he invoiced us for the preparation of the business plan, he came to my restaurant with an architect to draft the renovation plan for the new restaurant, organised a meeting with Themba at NEF premises in Cape Town (convincing him to spend money in travelling between Joburg and CT), sent us many different documents that were supposed to be part of the application. We firmly re**** on him, but unfortunately, he was only a despicable man that stole all our savings and never submitted any application. He not only de*****ed us, but broke Themba’s hopes and dreams. It was a horrible experience.