SOUTH African businessman Frederick Wilhelm August Lutzkie, who crash-landed and buried his chopper at Doddieburn Farm in Gwanda, has taken his partner Lourens Botha and son to court for theft of a generator worth over $30 000.
Lutzkie, who is out on bail pending appeal against a seven-year jail sentence imposed on him for violating Zimbabwe’s immigration and aviation laws, has been lined up as one of the State witnesses in the theft case.
Botha is on trial for illegally working at Doddieburn Ranch where Lutzkie is the major shareholder.
The State alleged that he worked as a manager, but he is denying the charges arguing that he is a shareholder.
Botha (65) and his son Lourens Botha (Jr) appeared before Gwanda magistrate Sheila Nazombe yesterday facing theft charges.
They were not asked to plead and were remanded out of custody to July 7 after their lawyer Thamsanqa Khumalo indicated that they had not been served with State papers.
According to court records, Lutzkie bought all shares from Endless Fun, a company which was owned by the Bothas, taking control of mining equipment.
Part of the property was eventually sold to another mining company owned by Bronson Marcus David.
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On October 10 2013, Botha and his son, who are co-owners of Sihamba Sonke Mine in Lushonkwe, went to Gonda North Mine in Gwanda and allegedly misled one Laxin Ndlovu that they had borrowed a 165kv generator and a quirk bowl from David and they were given the property.
David, who owns Peogoine Mine, went to the mine 12 days later and discovered that his property was missing.
Ndlovu indicated that Botha and his son had taken the property and the matter was reported to police, leading to the arrest of the two.
In his signed affidavit, Lutzkie alleged Botha (Sr) tried to coerce him to sign an affidavit indicating that he had given them the green light to take over the property.
The property valued at $31 500 was recovered from the Botha family.
