Actress Lerato Mvelase is known for her tough-as-nails roles on screen, but her latest battle is happening in the real world, and the stakes couldn't be higher. The "Lockdown" star has revealed that she was scammed out of a staggering R300,000 by a travel company known as Black Trotters Afrika, leaving her festive holiday plans in ruins and her bank account significantly lighter. This is a cautionary tale of "black excellence" marketing gone wrong and the dark side of the luxury travel industry.
The actress, who has been a mainstay of South African television for decades, took to social media to name and shame the individual she holds responsible: Refiloe Miriam Tsakatsa. According to Mvelase, she paid the massive sum for a luxury family holiday that was supposed to be the highlight of her year. Instead, she was met with a wall of silence and a trail of broken promises.
"I worked hard for that money," Mvelase shared in a series of heated posts that have garnered thousands of comments. "I saved, I planned, and I trusted this person to create a beautiful experience for my family. I wanted to give my children something special. Instead, she took the money and disappeared. All the socials are gone, the phones are off, and I’m left with nothing but a broken heart and a massive financial loss."
The scam appears to be part of a larger, more sophisticated pattern. Since Mvelase went public, dozens of other victims have come forward with similar stories of being "skimmmed" by Black Trotters Afrika. The company, which marketed itself as a premier travel agency for the "black excellence" demographic, allegedly used high-end social media marketing, featuring influencers and luxury destinations, to lure in wealthy clients before disappearing with their deposits.
"She’s a professional," one victim shared, speaking on condition of anonymity. "She knows exactly what to say, she shows you the pictures of the luxury villas in Mauritius, the private jets, the five-star service in Dubai. You feel like you're in good hands. And then, once the final payment is made, the excuses start. First it's a 'system error,' then it's a 'delayed confirmation,' and then—nothing."
Mvelase is not taking the situation lying down. She has vowed to use her platform and her resources to ensure that Tsakatsa faces justice. "She’s going to pay," the actress declared with the same intensity she brings to her roles. "Not just for the money, but for the stress and the heartache she’s caused my family. You don't get to build a luxury lifestyle on the backs of hard-working people and just walk away. I will not stop until she is held accountable."
The incident has highlighted the growing problem of travel scams in South Africa, particularly those targeting high-profile individuals and those looking for luxury experiences. Experts warn that as social media becomes the primary tool for travel marketing, it’s easier than ever for scammers to create a facade of legitimacy. The use of "aspirational" marketing is a powerful tool that can blind even the most savvy consumers.
"Always verify before you pay," a travel industry insider advised. "Check for ASATA (Association of Southern African Travel Agents) registration, look for independent reviews on platforms like HelloPeter, and never pay the full amount upfront if you can avoid it. If a deal looks too good to be true, or if the pressure to pay immediately is high, those are major red flags."
For Mvelase, the R300,000 loss is a bitter pill to swallow, but she says the betrayal of trust is what hurts the most. "I wanted to support a black-owned business. I wanted to see a young black woman succeed in the tourism space. And she used that very desire against me. That’s the real tragedy here—it makes people afraid to support their own."
The actress has already opened a case with the South African Police Service (SAPS), and she is encouraging other victims to do the same. "We need to stand together. If we let her get away with this, she’ll just do it to someone else under a different name. We need to shut these 'fly-by-night' operators down for good."
As the investigation into Black Trotters Afrika and Refiloe Miriam Tsakatsa continues, Lerato Mvelase is focusing on getting her life and her finances back on track. But she has a message for the "Travel Queen" who took her money: "I’m coming for you. And I’m not stopping until you're behind bars. You picked the wrong woman to mess with." This battle is far from over, and the industry is watching closely to see if justice will truly be served.
Follow Us on Twitter
