Spar Management Leaving Amid Fraud Reports

JOHANNESBURG – Retailer Spar has announced that former board chair Graham O’Connor will leave in February and that CEO Brett Botten will leave at the end of January.

The shift in leadership comes after charges that Spar had distorted shop values, reported fraudulent loans, and discriminated against black franchisors were made public in 2022.

The organisation, according to the more than 10 stores, intended to utilise its Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) financing to save white retailers and dump black ones.

To look into the situation, Harris Nupen Molebatsi Attorneys was hired.

In several franchisees, their research confirmed rampant fronting and fraud.