MBABANE:Ioannis Kiriakos Calivitis, the Director of eBet has reported businessman Jaque Van Heever to the police for alleged extortion after the latter demanded R7million failing which, he will continue to block the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs from awarding eBet a Gaming License.
Jaque Van Heever is the Director of Q’s, a gambling company based in Mbabane and is alleged to have influenced Director of Tourism Gcinangaye Tsabedze and Secretary of the Gaming Board Maxwell Dlamini not to award eBet a Gaming License.
The businessman allegedly sent a message to the eBet Director demanding R7million to withdraw an objection with the Gaming Board under the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, this resulted to the eBet Director reporting what he described as extortion to the police.
When reporting the matter to the law enforcement agency, the eBet Director further narrated through a sworn affidavit what “he has been going through” in an effort to obtain a license with the Gaming Board.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News, businessman Jaque Van Heever confirmed that he was objecting the awarding of a license to eBet, accusing the eBet Director of owing him millions as they were previously in a business partnership.
“It’s true that, I am objecting to the awarding of a license to eBet, he is owing me a lot of money”, said the Q’s Director.
When asked it he sent a message to the eBet Director demanding R7million in order to withdraw the objection and if, he works with Director of Tourism Gcinangaye Tsabedze, the businessman asked not to comment about any message sent to the eBet Director or his alleged involvement with Gcinangaye Tsabedze.
But in the alleged extortion message it appears that,both Ioannis Kiriakos Calivitis,the Director of eBet and Jaque Van Heever were in a business partnership before the eruption of a serious fallout.
“You and Willie resigned as Directors and Shareholders from Q’s Swaziland. 7million in a bank account of my choice,” reads the message in part.
In the same message, Jaque Van Heever further promised to withdraw the Gaming Board objection against the intended award of a license to eBet,the company “is currently operating” with a provisional license.
“I will withdraw my objection for your EBET license in Swaziland”, he allegedly said in the message.
Efforts to reach National Commissioner of the Royal Eswatini Police Service(REPS) Vusi Manoma Masango proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
Gcinangaye Tsabedze, the Director of Tourism who is alleged to have been working with businessman Jaque Van Der Heever in blocking the eBet license, declined to comment about the matter.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Wednesday, Ioannis Kiriakos Calivitis, the Director of eBet confirmed opening an extortion criminal case against businessman Jaque Van Heever.
“It’s true that I have opened a criminal case with the police against Jaque Van Heever, he has been extorting me R7million since April 2024 saying he will continue to block the awarding of eBet license if I don’t pay him the money, I’ve decided to take legal action against him.We have employed six(60) people and now eBet is being frustrated by someone who is extorting me R7million”, he said.
Khangeziwe Mabuza, the Principal Secretary(PS) in the Ministry of Tourism promised to contact this journalist later after numerous attempts to contact her.
“I see your calls, please call later Nkhosi im in a meeting”, said the Principal Secretary.
The application to award eBet a license is pending before the Gaming Board amid serious allegations suggesting that, Director of Tourism Gcinangaye Tsabedze and the previous Board “were working with outsiders including Jaque Van Heever” to frustrate eBet from obtaining the license.
The Board was chaired by former Magistrate Simo Simelane was subsequently fired by Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs.
One of eBet offices(pic: supplied).