WHERE'S OUR R6 MILLION?

A Johannesburg businessman claims former SA tennis star Wayne Ferreira owes him money – and while an American court ruled in his favour, he has yet to see a cent

- MARELIZE GRBICH

IN THE ’90s he was South Africa’s golden boy of tennis, facing off against legends such as Pete Sampras and André Agassi. Freckle-faced Wayne Ferreira, who made his pro debut in the late ’80s, was at one stage ranked sixth in the world.

Wayne gave South Africans reason to dream of a Wimbledon win when he played 56 consecutive Grand Slams – one of only a handful of players to compete in that many. And although he never won, the two-time Australian Open semifinalist has always been well respected in the sporting world.

But now the former tennis star is embroiled in a legal battle with Johannesburg businessman Norman Cherry.

Norman (61) says he invested about R6 million in EcoloBlue, a water company Wayne co-founded in 2007. EcoloBlue’s machines are designed to turn atmospheric moisture into drinkable water.

Norman claims he paid Wayne for a machine but never received it and that his money evaporated before his eyes

After a four-year battle to get his money back, the fed-up businessman took the former tennis pro and his business partner to court. Last year a judge in Miami, Florida, ruled in Norman’s favour, ordering Wayne and EcoloBlue co- owner Henri-James Tieleman to pay back the R6 million. This is for losses that include a machine that never materialised and legal expenses.

But he still hasn’t received a cent.

“The problem is they couldn’t find him to serve him the papers,” Norman says.

The American lawyers he’d contracted at great cost were unable to hand Wayne the court order to pay back the money.