Wedding planner fraud leaves Elsies River couple in financial distress
Rudy Koopstadt and Shiney Richardson, the couple whose wedding dreams were shattered by a fraudulent planner.
Image: supplied
What is supposed to be one of the most beautiful times of their lives has turned into a nightmare for an Elsies River couple, who claim they were defrauded out of R48 000 by their wedding planner.
Shiney Richardson and Rudy Koopstadt from Elsies River planned to tie the knot on August 1 at the Ou Stal Wedding Venue in Stellenbosch.
They met their wedding planner, Bonita Swart, through a family member who quoted the couple R53 000, but because she was running a Black Friday special, they got a R5 000 discount and paid R48 000.
Richardson said: “We received her number from Rudy's cousin, as she used Bonita for her wedding. We started chatting on WhatsApp, where she shared her Black Friday deals with Rudy. We then went for a viewing in November, where we viewed the venue and met Bonita.
"Rudy and I decided we will pay her the full amount as everything is included, we signed a contract and paid.
"In December, we found out that she claimed bankruptcy.
"When we called her, she stated it was true, and there was nothing she could do.
"At this stage, Bonita is promising to pay you back, but she never does.
"As Rudy and I do not have any other support, our dreams are shattered, and we are at a standstill.
"We are so stressed financially, as we took out a loan to pay for the wedding.
"We know we shouldn't have, so now we are paying for a loan but no wedding, which means we can't even save for another wedding as we are paying the loan.”
The pair agreed that Swart will pay them R3 000 every month until the money is paid off; however, when Cape Argus sister publication, Daily Voice contacted Swart, she said that she has no income to pay them off.
Swart said: “We made arrangements for me to make monthly payments, but I told her to just give me time because I am not working at the moment. My business went bankrupt, and I don’t have any income at the moment, so I am trying my best. I am trying now to get funds together to pay her, but I have no work at the moment. I am getting help from family and friends. I spoke to the other couples as well and said that as soon as I get on my feet, I will start paying everyone back.”
The couple have opened a case of fraud at Pinelands police station.
Police spokesperson, Thembakazi Mpendukana, said: “This office confirms that a fraud case was opened at Pinelands SAPS in February 2026 and the docket has been transferred to the Senior Public Prosecutor for a decision.”
The couple is appealing for any donations towards their BackaBuddy.
www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-us-rebuild-what-was-taken-from-us