Image Source: Signal Akron
Local – Karen Birkholtz’s holiday plans were shattered just days before departure when a long-trusted travel booking suddenly collapsed.
What was meant to be a milestone getaway became a financial and emotional ordeal after a travel agency allegedly failed to honour a fully paid holiday.
Silver Touch Events and Travel now faces at least 20 criminal cases after families across Gauteng reported paying large upfront sums for luxury trips that never took place.
As departure dates drew closer, victims said communication from the agency became increasingly inconsistent, with repeated assurances that bookings and documents were being finalised.
Birkholtz said the betrayal cut deeply because the offer came from someone she had trusted for more than 16 years, a former colleague and close personal friend, making it difficult for her to suspect anything was wrong at the time.
She explained that the holiday proposal was presented to her on her birthday in July, framed as a rare and urgent opportunity that required immediate action.
“I’ve known [Premila Shunmugam] from Silver Touch for in excess of 16 years… we used to work together at one stage, and then she opened up Silver Touch Events… we always remained friends, always chatting, meeting for coffee… and you never mistrust a friend who seemed to be this close to you.”
“I consider myself somebody that would be really hard to be scammed, but I’m telling you, people look around you, it’s probably the people closest to you.”
The collapse of the booking only became clear at the end of November when victims were notified that the company had been placed into liquidation.
By that point, flights, accommodation, leave arrangements and personal travel preparations had already been completed.
Birkholtz said the emotional impact was intensified by the significance of the holiday, which had been planned as a once-in-a-lifetime retirement celebration for her husband after turning 65, a moment they had both been looking forward to for months.
“I found out via an email on the 28th of November that she put her company into liquidation, and she was so sorry she couldn’t honour my holiday… I was meant to leave eight days from now.”
“I got all my beachwear. I was good and ready to go. The disappointment that I felt was not only that I couldn’t go on my holiday and I’d lost my money, but she had betrayed my friendship.”
Since then, victims have formed support groups, shared evidence and pursued legal action together. Around 24 complainants have opened criminal cases, including charges of fraud and misrepresentation.
Birkholtz said that beyond the financial loss, the experience has left lasting emotional damage, and her priority now is to see accountability through the justice system while also protecting other families from suffering the same fate.
“I just want justice to be served. Plain and simple. It must follow the rule of law, and she must get what she deserves.”
