Business Practices Committee Report 79

Holsthauzen was the only member of Zuchiro Financial Advisors CC (Zuchiro), trading as Metro Investments. Zuchiro was also involved in the micro lending industry and accepted investments or loans from the public. It appeared that Holsthauzen obtained loans from investors in his personal capacity whilst operating Zuchiro. Investors in Zuchiro and those that lent money to Holsthauzen received a return of 10 per cent per month.

Zuchiro was placed under voluntary liquidation during February 1999 and, according to Holsthauzen, approximately R4.1 million was still owed to the investors by Zuchiro and himself. It is not known what amount was owed by Zuchiro and what was owed by Holsthauzen. When Metro Cash Loans (fly) Ltd was registered on 23 March 1999, Holsthauzen accepted the liability to repay the loans advanced by investors to Zuchiro and himself. Metro Cash Loans (fly) Ltd or Holsthauzen had no legal obligation to accept liability for the repayment of the loans advanced to Zuchiro, but Holsthauzen claimed that he had a moral obligation to do so. It appears that he did not regard himself and Zuchiro, and later Metro, as separate legal entities.