Heafield’s Court Date
South African promoter Duncan Heafield’s next court appearance has been scheduled for Nov. 28.
Heafield, whose Celine Dion dates in South Africa received many complaints from fans, is accused of fraud amounting to Rand 33 million ($3.7 million).
He also scheduled a Josh Groban tour but the artist pulled out, with his management saying Heafield failed to fulfill the contract.
It left thousands of fans chasing refunds, which Heafield has so far been unable to pay.
Heafield was originally arrested in Durban by the police’s commercial crime unit, which, according to South Africa’s The Times, had been investigating him for “some time.”
He made three court appearances in the spring and was granted R10,000 ($1,082) bail while police carried out further investigations.
Durban police superintendent Muzi Mngomezulu said he couldn’t confirm who is bringing the charges, but Heafield reportedly told the complainant he represented a deregistered company called 3C Africa.
Several of the suppliers on the Dion tour say they’ve also brought charges against Heafield.
Johannesburg’s Coca Cola Dome banned him from using the stadium, saying the “unprofessional conduct” of “these bad promoters” hurts the country’s industry.
The Dion shows and the cancellation of the Groban tour led to the bankruptcy of Ticketconnection, which had exclusive rights to sell tickets for both.
In a statement prepared by his lawyer, JJ Strijdom, Heafield said he will deny guilt on all charges and is willing to stand trial.
