Premila Shunmugam, the heartless Travel Scammer
JOHANNESBURG — The legal proceedings against Johannesburg-based travel agent Premila Shunmugam have intensified as investigators scrutinize a sprawling network of alleged fraud that has left dozens of South African families millions of rand out of pocket. Shunmugam, the 57-year-old owner of Silver Touch Events and Travel, is at the center of a criminal investigation involving at least 50 families who claim they were scammed out of combined savings exceeding R5 million.
The case, which first gained national attention during the 2025 festive season, involves allegations that Shunmugam sold high-end international holiday packages to destinations such as Dubai and Mauritius. Victims allege that after paying full amounts upfront, often ranging between R130,000 and R260,000, they received fraudulent booking confirmations. When the dates for travel approached, the agency allegedly failed to provide valid tickets, with airlines later confirming that booking numbers were invalid or that provisional hotel reservations had been cancelled due to non-payment.
Shunmugam was previously granted bail of R100,000 in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court despite strong opposition from the state. Prosecutors argued that the travel agent is a repeated offender, citing a 2006 fraud conviction and the fact that she faces over 37 criminal cases across multiple provinces. At the time of her bail hearing, the court heard that while 24 dockets remained under active investigation, the magistrate found no conclusive evidence that Shunmugam would commit further offenses while awaiting trial.
One of the most harrowing accounts came from the Govender family in Phoenix, Durban. Nirvana Govender reported that her family used inheritance money to pay R130,000 for a trip to Dubai, a journey intended to honor her late father’s dream. Similarly, Sadhana Ramjit, a relative of Shunmugam, recounted how her family paid R258,000 for a Mauritius holiday that never materialized. Ramjit alleged that Shunmugam used high-pressure tactics, claiming she was offering a “reduced rate” on a package originally intended for a family that had supposedly died in an accident.
The scale of the alleged operation has highlighted significant vulnerabilities in the South African travel sector. As more victims come forward via social media support groups, the National Prosecuting Authority has had to manage a complex web of dockets originating from Durban, Pietermaritzburg, and Johannesburg. This consolidation of cases is essential for the state to prove a pattern of racketeering or organized criminal activity, which carries significantly heavier penalties than individual fraud charges.
Public interest in the matter remains high as the financial loss for many victims represents a lifetime of savings or the liquidation of family estates. The case serves as a stark warning regarding the necessity of verifying travel agency credentials with industry bodies like the Association of Southern African Travel Agents (ASATA). For the families involved, the focus remains on the recovery of funds and the pursuit of justice through the magistrate’s court system.
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