ROB ROSE: The hermit of Hermanus
With the prosecuting authority in such a mess, you have to wonder why Markus Jooste is so afraid of breathing a word to anyone
As far as the coastal version of Pokémon GO goes, spotting the Hermit of Hermanus has become a favourite pastime in the Western Cape seaside town. Yet last weekend, Markus Jooste, the erstwhile CEO of retail company Steinhoff, broke cover to attend the baptism of his first grandchild at the NG Kerk. The child is the daughter of Jooste’s right-hand man, Stefan Potgieter, who is married to his daughter. Netwerk24, in its report on the baptism, said only a few friends and family attended. Jooste sat at the back, apparently, where he didn’t speak to anyone. Many ears pricked up at the news, as one of the perpetual questions on everyone’s lips has been, where in the world is Markus? Since the Steinhoff scandal erupted in December, the 57-year-old product of Stellenbosch University has gone to ground. He doesn’t respond to messages, or even to friends who greet him when they bump into him. Nonetheless, it is well known that Jooste spends most of his time in Hermanus, in his house that spa...
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