Despite R150 000 a month, Markus Jooste's 'girlfriend' wanted more. But her legal bid backfired
- Ex-Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste directed over R60 million in 'loans' to his alleged romantic partner Berdine Odendaal, according to the Reserve Bank.
- The bank attached properties and cars linked to Odendaal last year and froze her bank accounts.
- Odendaal has taken the bank to court in a bid to get it to release funds to cover her mounting legal bills. But the bid backfired.
- For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page.
Berdine Odendaal, the rumoured romantic interest of Markus Jooste, has taken action against the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) - which seemingly backfired and stripped her of a monthly income of R150 000.
The bank has accused Odendaal of enjoying a "lavish lifestyle" funded by about R60 million in loans from a company linked to the former Steinhoff CEO.
Last year, the central bank blocked Odendaal's bank accounts, attaching two of her cars and four properties registered in her name at the exclusive Val de Vie Estate outside Paarl.
READ | Reserve Bank uses handwritten R376 million invoice in case against Markus Jooste
Attorneys for the Reserve Bank say there is evidence that the 39-year-old polo player bought the properties and cars it attached with loans she received from Mayfair Speculators, a horse racing company owned by Jooste's family trust.
It has questioned where else the funds stemmed from, saying that she did not report any income from her businesses to the bank.
Between February 2011 and June 2015, Odendaal received 12 loans from Mayfair, totalling R60 572 075. The SARB could find no evidence of any written loan agreements, meaning it is unclear what – if anything – Odendaal had to pay back.
It added that it suspects that the funds Odendaal received from Mayfair broke exchange control provisions, but did not provide details.
Legal fees
The bank's case against Odendaal is laid out in court documents detailing a clash over who should pay for her legal fees.
After Odendaal's assets and bank accounts were attached in April last year, she asked the bank to release funds for living expenses.
Odendaal's calculations for her monthly expenses included R70 000 for stabling, transport, grooms and vet care for her horses, R10 000 for hair, makeup, beauty and other personal expenses, and R4 000 for her domestic worker.
She also asked for funds for rates and levies, electricity, garden services, food and clothing.
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