Billy Rautenbach
Encyclopedia
Billy Rautenbach, also known as Muller Conrad Rautenbach (born 23 September 1959), is a multimillionaire Zimbabwe
an businessman. He is known for his aggressive business tactics and is believed to have close links to ZANU-PF and the government of Robert Mugabe
. However, this allegation, including the claims that he funds ZANU-PF, have not been proved.
Before he was 40, Rautenbach's business empire had spread in more than a dozen African countries even as far afield as Australia and Europe earning him the nickname "Napoleon of Africa". As of 2008, Rautenbach was on a travel ban list in both the European Union
and United States
.
where he faced hundreds of charges of alleged fraud
, corruption
and other crimes including his connection with his own South African company named Wheels of Africa Group in the 1990s. The group, which was the distributor for Korean car firm Hyundai
in South Africa and Botswana, was liquidated in December 1999. At that time, he had property worth millions seized from him. These include a farm in the Western Cape worth more than R30 million, hunting safaris, a falcon executive jet, a bell 407 helicopter and a yacht, which have since been returned to him. The charges against Rautenbach include the theft of 1,300 cars from Hyundai, bribing
customs officials and fraudulently reducing the tax liability of Wheels of Africa's subsidiaries. He fled South Africa in 1999 after justice department investigators raided his office and home. In 2009, he reached a bargain plea with the South African authorities to pay a fine of 40 million rand.
appointed Rautenbach the managing director of Gécamines
, the state-owned copper-cobalt miner. Some of the more valuable Gecamines assets were transferred to a joint venture between Rautenbach's Ridgepointe International and a company controlled by DRC minister of state Pierre-Victor Mpoyo.
In March 2000, Kabila replaced Rautenbach with George Forrest, owner of the Forrest Group, and stripped him of all his assets in Katanga.
These included the Kambove
and Kakanda processing plants, and the Kababancola Concessions including the Mukondo Mine
. The assets were transferred to the Kababancola Mining Company (KMC), a joint venture between Gecamines and John Bredenkamp
's Tremalt
.
Later Rautenbach acquired an interest in Boss Mining, which acquired the C19 and C21 mining concessions and 50% of Mukondo, some of the assets that had been given to Bredenkamp. In a February 2006 deal, Rautenbach gained about 17% of the Central African Mining & Exploration Company's (CAMEC) shares when CAMEC bought Boss.
In 2007 CAMEC and the owners of Tremalt decided to combine their Mukondo assets into a new holding company. Billy Rautenbach would be excluded from ownership in the new company due to the hostile relations that had developed between him and the DRC government.
It has been reported in trade publication Metal Bulletin that Rautenbach is thought to still be involved with marketing and moving cobalt for the CAMEC operations in Africa. CAMEC is a company based in London however has large operations in countries such as Zimbabwe, many of the deals it has won in the region are clouded by corruption allegations of which in numerous occasions Rautenbach can be directly linked. Rautenbach was a major shareholder in Camec until the company's sale to Eurasian Natural Resources Corp in September 2009.
CAMEC recently sold 95.40% of its shares to the Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation
. CAMEC is currently under restructuring and is no longer trading under the CAMEC brand. http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20091208/enrc-africa-offer-for-camec-has-93-55-acceptance.htm
blacklist in January 2008, and the US blacklist towards the end of 2008 for his alleged involvement with the Mugabe government. It is alleged he has aided Robert Mugabe’s government financially, regardless of current international sanctions
imposed on Zimbabwe
to limit Robert Mugabe’s grip of power. A noticeable proportion of the funds made available to Robert Mugabe were used to pay his security forces help keep him in power. Mugabe, grateful for financial support often returned the favour to Rautenbach and similar financiers in exchange for dubious and lucrative drilling
and mining
deals with companies based in countries such as the British Virgin Islands
, the Cook Islands
and so on, both of which could be seen as having a lack of regulation in place therefore making it easier to transfer funds to Zimbabwe. He currently owns the Volvo
franchise in Zimbabwe, the country's largest freight company
and vast tracts of agricultural land, which includes land used for crocodile
rearing.
In a 2009 Dispatches
TV documentary "Bankrolling Mugabe" on Britain's Channel 4
, he was described as corrupt by opposition politicians and was shown to have interests in the mining industry of Zimbabwe and linked to moves to remove black farmers from their grazing land.
40 miles north of the capital Harare
. In 2007, on a business trip in Lubumbashi, Congo, he was immediately arrested and consequently deported back to Zimbabwe for his alleged actions in South Africa , Rautenbach has denied such allegations and said "he left for Zimbabwe on his own accord".
He used to be a rally driver, and his son Conrad Rautenbach
is a rally driver.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an businessman. He is known for his aggressive business tactics and is believed to have close links to ZANU-PF and the government of Robert Mugabe
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
. However, this allegation, including the claims that he funds ZANU-PF, have not been proved.
Before he was 40, Rautenbach's business empire had spread in more than a dozen African countries even as far afield as Australia and Europe earning him the nickname "Napoleon of Africa". As of 2008, Rautenbach was on a travel ban list in both the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
South African charges
Rautenbach was wanted in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
where he faced hundreds of charges of alleged fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
, corruption
Corporate crime
In criminology, corporate crime refers to crimes committed either by a corporation , or by individuals acting on behalf of a corporation or other business entity...
and other crimes including his connection with his own South African company named Wheels of Africa Group in the 1990s. The group, which was the distributor for Korean car firm Hyundai
Hyundai
Hyundai ) is a global conglomerate company, part of the Korean chaebol, that was founded in South Korea by one of the most famous businessmen in Korean history: Chung Ju-yung...
in South Africa and Botswana, was liquidated in December 1999. At that time, he had property worth millions seized from him. These include a farm in the Western Cape worth more than R30 million, hunting safaris, a falcon executive jet, a bell 407 helicopter and a yacht, which have since been returned to him. The charges against Rautenbach include the theft of 1,300 cars from Hyundai, bribing
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
customs officials and fraudulently reducing the tax liability of Wheels of Africa's subsidiaries. He fled South Africa in 1999 after justice department investigators raided his office and home. In 2009, he reached a bargain plea with the South African authorities to pay a fine of 40 million rand.
Democratic Republic of Congo activities
In November 1998 president Laurent-Désiré KabilaLaurent-Désiré Kabila
Laurent-Désiré Kabila was President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from May 17, 1997, when he overthrew Mobutu Sese Seko, until his assassination by his bodyguards on January 18, 2001...
appointed Rautenbach the managing director of Gécamines
Gécamines
Gécamines, or La Générale des Carrières et des Mines, is a state-owned mining company in the Democratic Republic of Congo . Its principal products are copper , cobalt and zinc...
, the state-owned copper-cobalt miner. Some of the more valuable Gecamines assets were transferred to a joint venture between Rautenbach's Ridgepointe International and a company controlled by DRC minister of state Pierre-Victor Mpoyo.
In March 2000, Kabila replaced Rautenbach with George Forrest, owner of the Forrest Group, and stripped him of all his assets in Katanga.
These included the Kambove
Kambove mines
The Kambove mines are a group of active or abandoned copper mines near Kambove in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Inactive mines in the region include Kabolela Mine, Kakanda deposit, Kambove Principal Mine and M'sesa Mine....
and Kakanda processing plants, and the Kababancola Concessions including the Mukondo Mine
Mukondo Mine
Mukondo Mine is a copper and cobalt mine in Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of 2011 it was operated by the Central African Mining and Exploration Company...
. The assets were transferred to the Kababancola Mining Company (KMC), a joint venture between Gecamines and John Bredenkamp
John Bredenkamp
John Arnold Bredenkamp is a Zimbabwean businessman and former rugby player. He is the founder of the Casalee Group.-Early life:...
's Tremalt
Tremalt
Tremalt Limited was a mining company incorporated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . It was the vehicle for a highly criticized deal in 2001 in which it bought copper assets at far below their estimated value in return for a private agreement to pay a share of profits to the DRC and Zimbabwe...
.
Later Rautenbach acquired an interest in Boss Mining, which acquired the C19 and C21 mining concessions and 50% of Mukondo, some of the assets that had been given to Bredenkamp. In a February 2006 deal, Rautenbach gained about 17% of the Central African Mining & Exploration Company's (CAMEC) shares when CAMEC bought Boss.
In 2007 CAMEC and the owners of Tremalt decided to combine their Mukondo assets into a new holding company. Billy Rautenbach would be excluded from ownership in the new company due to the hostile relations that had developed between him and the DRC government.
It has been reported in trade publication Metal Bulletin that Rautenbach is thought to still be involved with marketing and moving cobalt for the CAMEC operations in Africa. CAMEC is a company based in London however has large operations in countries such as Zimbabwe, many of the deals it has won in the region are clouded by corruption allegations of which in numerous occasions Rautenbach can be directly linked. Rautenbach was a major shareholder in Camec until the company's sale to Eurasian Natural Resources Corp in September 2009.
CAMEC recently sold 95.40% of its shares to the Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation
Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation
Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation PLC is a diversified natural resources company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has activities in mining, processing, energy, logistics and marketing....
. CAMEC is currently under restructuring and is no longer trading under the CAMEC brand. http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20091208/enrc-africa-offer-for-camec-has-93-55-acceptance.htm
Mugabwe government connections
Rautenbach was added to the EUEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
blacklist in January 2008, and the US blacklist towards the end of 2008 for his alleged involvement with the Mugabe government. It is alleged he has aided Robert Mugabe’s government financially, regardless of current international sanctions
International sanctions
International sanctions are actions taken by countries against others for political reasons, either unilaterally or multilaterally.There are several types of sanctions....
imposed on Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
to limit Robert Mugabe’s grip of power. A noticeable proportion of the funds made available to Robert Mugabe were used to pay his security forces help keep him in power. Mugabe, grateful for financial support often returned the favour to Rautenbach and similar financiers in exchange for dubious and lucrative drilling
Drilling
Drilling is a cutting process that uses a drill bit to cut or enlarge a hole in solid materials. The drill bit is a multipoint, end cutting tool...
and mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
deals with companies based in countries such as the British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands, often called the British Virgin Islands , is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S...
, the Cook Islands
Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
and so on, both of which could be seen as having a lack of regulation in place therefore making it easier to transfer funds to Zimbabwe. He currently owns the Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
franchise in Zimbabwe, the country's largest freight company
Freight company
Freight companies are companies that specialize in the moving of freight, or cargo, from one place to another. These companies are divided into several variant sections...
and vast tracts of agricultural land, which includes land used for crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
rearing.
In a 2009 Dispatches
Dispatches (TV series)
Dispatches is the British television current affairs documentary series on Channel 4, first transmitted in 1987. The programme covers issues about British society, politics, health, religion, international current affairs and the environment, usually featuring a mole in an organisation.-Awards:*...
TV documentary "Bankrolling Mugabe" on Britain's Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, he was described as corrupt by opposition politicians and was shown to have interests in the mining industry of Zimbabwe and linked to moves to remove black farmers from their grazing land.
Personal
Rautenbach resides in Zimbabwe, on his estate in MazoweMazowe
Mazowe is a village in Mashonaland Central province in Zimbabwe....
40 miles north of the capital Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
. In 2007, on a business trip in Lubumbashi, Congo, he was immediately arrested and consequently deported back to Zimbabwe for his alleged actions in South Africa , Rautenbach has denied such allegations and said "he left for Zimbabwe on his own accord".
He used to be a rally driver, and his son Conrad Rautenbach
Conrad Rautenbach
Conrad Rautenbach is a rally driver from Zimbabwe who competed in the World Rally Championship for the Citroën Junior Team along with his co-driver Daniel Barritt...
is a rally driver.