CEO of Blacktrotters Afrika ,Refiloe Tsakatsa.
By Staff Reporter
Several former employees of luxury travel agency Blacktrotters Afrika have raised serious allegations of unpaid salaries, unfair dismissals, intimidation, and possible irregularities involving tax and UIF contributions. The employees, who spoke to Joburg Times on condition of anonymity, say they faced harsh working conditions, financial exploitation, and disregard for labour laws.
One former worker of Blacktrotters Afrika, who was employed for only two months, said there was no proper training and that management often humiliated staff. “From the first day, I could see something was off. There was no proper training, and when I asked for guidance, I was told, ‘Your best isn’t good enough.’ That’s how management spoke to us,” she said. She added that she never received her salary for October 2024 despite repeated follow-ups. “They kept saying it’s coming, but to this day, I have never been paid. I went to the CCMA, and even after they agreed to a date of payment, nothing happened,” she said.
Another former staff member said he discovered that UIF and tax contributions deducted from his salary were never submitted to the relevant authorities. “When I went to the Department of Labour, I was told I was never registered as an employee—even though UIF deductions were on my payslips. SARS later confirmed that no tax declarations were submitted on my behalf, even though thousands were deducted from my salary every month. Where did that money go?” he told Joburg Times. He also alleged that management frequently used threats, claiming to have “people in high places”, which discouraged staff from speaking out.
Former employees described clients being affected by last-minute bookings and delayed travel documents, while staff were left to deal with complaints. Some allege they were dismissed without notice, charges, or hearings, and that final salaries and commissions were withheld. Others claim they were pressured to resign or coerced into taking responsibility for mistakes made by senior managers.
Additional allegations towards Blacktrotters Afrika include irregular issuance of payslips, failure to secure accommodation for clients during a December trip to Dubai, and intimidation in disputes over company assets. One former employee alleged that co-owner Mr Afrika Tsakatsa of Blacktrotters Afrika, husband of CEO Refiloe Tsakatsa, had been accused of sexual harassment, though no formal finding or proof has been established.
The employees have provided Joburg Times with supporting documents—including payslips, internal emails, and CCMA papers—which they say back their claims of unpaid wages, missing UIF registration, and stalled dispute resolutions.
The group is calling for outstanding salaries and commissions to be settled and for SARS, the Department of Labour, and law enforcement to investigate UIF and PAYE records, as well as possible breaches of labour and financial law.
Blacktrotters Afrika issued a media statement in response, defending its track record in the travel industry and addressing recent logistical issues on a European trip. “For over a decade, Blacktrotters Afrika has been a trusted travel partner, curating unforgettable experiences for thousands of travellers across the globe,” the company said. It added that the European disruption was caused by a third-party supplier but stressed it had taken full responsibility and had already begun addressing the matter.
Blacktrotters Afrika rejected what it described as “exaggerated or misleading narratives on social media,” warning that defamatory content was under legal review. It said it is introducing stricter supplier due diligence, tighter operational controls, and stronger client communication systems.
A Joburg Times journalist met with Mr Afrika Tsakatsa in person. Tsakatsa, who co-owns Blacktrotters Afrika with his wife, CEO Refiloe Tsakatsa, declined to be recorded during the interview and asked that all questions be directed to a PR company.
At the time of publication, SARS and the Department of Labour had not confirmed whether investigations into the allegations were underway.
