Worldwide Solutionz under criminal investigation in South Africa
Worldwide Solutionz was a Ponzi scheme that popped up BehindMLM’s radar back in 2014.
Under the guise of helping the poor, Worldwide Solutionz affiliates invested $25 on the promise of a $40 ROI. This ROI was funded by subsequent affiliate investment.
With a $15 liability generated per $25 investment made, in early 2015 the scheme began experiences cashflow problems. In April, 2015 Worldwide Solutionz collapsed, which founder Marelize Van Niekerk-Venter blamed on a “lack of support” from affiliates.
In early 2016 Van Niekerk-Venter suggested a Worldwide Solutionz reboot was on the cards, however to date this failed to materialize.
Now authorities in South Africa have revealed a criminal investigation is under way.
Worldwide Solutionz itself confirmed it was under regulatory scrutiny in late 2014. In January it was revealed Van Niekerk-Venter (right) had hired a criminal attorney.
Since then though, there has been no indication as to the status of any South African regulatory investigation into the scheme.
Van Niekerk-Venter disappeared after Worldwide Solutionz collapsed. The last post on her Facebook profile is dated November, 2014.
Sometime over the last few days, fifteen South African Worldwide Solutionz victims known to police received an email from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).
As per their website, the DPCI are
responsible for the combating, investigation and prevention of national priority crimes such as serious organized crime, serious commercial crime and serious corruption.
The Commercial Crime Unit of the DPCI appears to be handling the Worldwide Solutionz investigation.
As per the email sent to victims;
Statement from the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) was received.
Ruan and Marelize van Niekerk-Venter (World Wide Solutions) are not registered under the SARB Act.
The matter was discussed with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who informed this office of the following:
1. To send a request to all the victims in this matter to indicate who will be able to have an interview with this office and the DPP in the next two months;
2. The DPP also requested that an indication are needed to who will/can be able to attend court proceedings as a witness for the State in proofing this matter or to assure a successful prosecution in this matter.
Victims have been given until May 19th to respond to the email.
What struck me as odd is why it took the South African Reserve Bank over two years to establish Ruan and Marelize van Niekerk-Venter were not authorized to run an investment scheme.
Surely that could have been cleared up in a few days back in 2015?
The current status of Marelize van Niekerk-Venter and her son Ruan is unclear. Either way though, looks like we might see criminal proceedings underway by the end of the year.
Stay tuned…
We were providing information to the South African Authorities. Like you, I am surprised that anything is finally happening.
I was told by people in South Africa that the National Police were a joke and it took years for an investigation to be completed; and then nothing happened.
They also said the new head of the National Police had never been a policeman, and was not capable of handling the job. It appears they were wrong in this assessment.
Also wonder if they will go after the major promoters of this Ponzi at the conclusion of the criminal trial, and especially those here in the US.
A couple of the top US promoters lost all their credibility with their involvement. I have not seen them on the Internet since this was shut down; at least not at MMG. They especially attacked me at MMG for exposing this Ponzi.
Looking forward to seeing how this all plays out and if she and Ruan are convicted of the charges against them.
One of the things that always baffled me was when Marelize announced that Willem Laubscher was named CFO. He is a registered accountant. It also baffled me as to why he would risk his professional reputation to be a part of WWSz.
I had to speculate that he was sold a bill of goods by Marelize to join, and then once he got inside he learned what it was really all about and bailed. She never announced his resignation but every time she “thanked” all the people in WWSz, his name was never mentioned.
He did show up at MMG for a few posts to address the issues I had raised, but I think that was more to see if he could get me to stop posting, which didn’t work. After his 4 or 5 posts he disappeared from MMG and ironically from WWSz.
But his presence did lend an “air” of legitimacy for a brief spell to WWSz, at least for the faithful.
Until they will get convicted i am sure she will get old LOL, and i dont think any promoter of this will be investigated as long as they all was in same shit and even the big players didnt knew what Marelize was doing for real in the background with their money.
Some of them was really disappointed after their visit in SA and from that point they played low profile, but all those was only few.
Not so sure any of big losers in this will ever recover anything from their lost big money.
so in the end is … Love light and gratitude! LOL to quote one of biggest SA scammer.
i knew her from margate, she told me once that if anything happened she will moved to an island, but I cannot remember which one, will be one that south Africans do not need visums… malta, sheyshells …. I hope it can help.
Does anyone have an update on this case or the whereabouts of Marelize.
Case seems to have gone nowhere. Marelize made off like a bandit with everyone’s money.
Such is Ponzi life.