Members of a stokvel who made payments every month in 2024 to save up for Christmas meat hampers now have a beef with the supplier after the deal purportedly went belly-up.
Out of pocket and struggling to make ends meet, some alleged they had been left out in the cold by Frozen Favourites, with their holiday plans destroyed in the process.
Some say they even had to dip into their children’s school stationery funds to feed their families over the festive period.
The Herald spoke to several alleged victims who in total lost more than R200,000.
Frozen Favourites owner Byron Ruiters blamed soaring meat prices for the number of hamper packs being cut and said all affected customers would be refunded.
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge confirmed at least three cases, two related to theft and one to fraud, were being investigated.
“We can confirm that the cases have been opened and transferred to the respective police stations, Bethelsdorp, Gelvandale and Algoa Park,” he said.
“All the above cases are about food hampers, where the victims had to deposit sums of money to buy the hampers which they allegedly never received.
“An investigation is under way.”
Ruiters registered Declan Foods in 2017, with its trading arm Frozen Favourites offering festive hampers primarily for Easter and Christmas.
Frozen Favourites specialises in a variety of hampers filled with food and treats.
The company provides a convenient lay-by option, allowing customers to pay for their hampers in instalments.
Initially, there were three hampers to choose from that were sold through between 60 and 70 agents appointed by Ruiters.
Ruiters said on Tuesday afternoon that he took full responsibility for the situation and assured customers he was working on “resolving the issues”.
“The money people contributed went into a stokvel business account, not into any personal accounts,” he said.
“The rise in meat and grocery prices, which starts at the farms, is a significant factor in this.
“To cover our monthly expenses we need to generate a profit.”
But claims of soaring meat prices have been challenged.
Agricultural Business Chamber of SA chief economist Wandile Sihlobo said meat prices were in deflation by November 2024.
“Prices were actually decreasing,” Sihlobo said.
He also said that after slowing to 2.8% in October 2024, SA’s consumer food price inflation decelerated to 1.6% in November, the lowest since October 2010.
The supply of meat had also improved.
“It is for this reason that both vegetables and meat were in deflation in November 2024.”
Clivean Claassen, a customer who joined the stokvel under agent Marietta Blaauw in January 2024, paid over 11 months for three hampers — the luxury hamper, budget hamper and meat hamper.
The 38-year-old also paid a R35 administration fee. Her total loss amounted to R7,915.
“It was really not a good Christmas day for my family as we waited on Byron regarding the promises he had made to the agent that he would deliver just for him to leave us with nothing to have on Christmas,” she said.
“I had to use my children’s stationery money to provide for Christmas and now I’m in a financial predicament due to him not providing our hampers.”
Another customer, Clivonia Jonas, claimed she had lost R3,740.
“I didn’t know Byron at all,” the 29-year-old said.
“I joined the hamper stokvel after my sister-in-law introduced me to an agent.
“So when I contacted the agent and said I was interested in saving for the hampers I was signed up.
“In total, I [lost] R3,740 which was for the luxury hamper and the lunch hamper.”
She said it had ruined her financially.
“I’m broke as I’m talking to you right now,” she said.
“This December I had to rely on my family for Christmas food because I had already told them that I had saved and I was waiting for my stuff. I was embarrassed.
“My reason for saving was to cover unnecessary costs because my daughter will be going to Cape Town for the yearly school tour and I thought saving was best for me to also be able to cover her costs.”
Another customer, who only wanted to be identified as Melissa, said she had ordered and paid for three hampers.
“I don’t get a bonus in December, hence I made provision by sacrificing to pay for these hampers — R710 a month for 11 months,” she said.
“I had to borrow money from someone just to be able to prepare a decent meal on Christmas day for my family.
“2024 was my worst Christmas ever.”
Blaauw, an agent from Humansdorp, also described it as the “worst Christmas ever”.
“I can’t switch off my mind. I’m so tired,” she said.
“I don’t have an appetite because I’m sick of worrying.
“I feel terrible for my clients. They trusted me and now I don’t know if I can provide them with anything.”
Blaauw claimed she had put in and paid orders for 25 meat hampers, 15 luxury hampers and nine budget hampers, losing R140,520 paid in full.
Another agent for Frozen Favourites said she had been working for Ruiters for about three years.
“As an agent, you recruit people interested in hampers. They pay you and you then send the money to the company’s FNB business account each month,” the agent said.
“In return, you receive hampers in December.
“This year, however, things went wrong.”
She claimed she had paid a total of R73,490 to the company’s business account for 10 meat hampers, 12 budget hampers, four luxury hampers, and one large grocery voucher, plus a R910 administration fee.
“I WhatsApped Byron to ask about the collection date, but he never replied.
“I went to the warehouse on December 13 to check on the situation. When I got there, my name wasn’t on the schedule.
“I WhatsApped Byron again but still got no response, so I left.
“On December 14 and 15, I went back to the warehouse and managed to collect the four luxury hampers and one grocery hamper.
“However, I was still left with the meat and budget hampers.
“I kept returning until December 17 because my customers were starting to panic and send threats, demanding refunds since I had no updates to give them.”
She said she eventually spoke to Ruiters, who promised that she could collect five meat and five budget hampers the next day.
“Byron sent [someone] to buy stock and bring back five out of 10 meat hampers and five out of 12 budget hampers,” she said.
But things allegedly took a turn for the worse.
“On December 18, I arrived at the warehouse but it was locked. I called Byron and sent messages but he didn’t respond.
“I went back on the 19th and the warehouse was still locked.
“ Despite numerous attempts to contact Byron and his employees, I received no replies.”
With no other options, she went to her bank.
“I logged a recall and was told to wait 14 days. On the 28th, I received the R26,490 reversal, but I am still fighting to recover the difference.”
Ruiters said he was working around the clock to resolve the issue.
“Everyone returned to work yesterday, with 80% of the tasks already completed.
“If we had intended to scam people we would have taken the money and disappeared.
“Instead, all funds go into a business account and the business takes full responsibility for them.
“If that means we have to go into the negative then so be it.”
He said given the circumstances, they had decided to stop the hamper business.
“We couldn’t have predicted how high meat prices would soar.
“The process is ongoing as the accountant is working on the paperwork and my assistant is handling the VAT returns so I can receive a lump sum back.
“In 2024, we had between 60 and 70 agents.
“We saw many sign-ups in January 2024, but due to financial constraints, many people couldn’t follow through with it throughout the year, leaving us with a lot of empty sign-ups.”
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