Cindy-Lee and Jaco Grobbelaar at their wedding in October last year. (Photo: Mighty Fine Weddings)
A South African couple was devastated after they paid dearly for a wedding video, but months later the videographer still had not produced any video of the wedding. This after traveling all the way from Canada to celebrate their wedding day with friends and family in their native country.
Cindy-Lee Grobbelaar and her husband, Jaco, decided to get married here where many of their relatives and friends still live and especially because they could not travel to South Africa for a long time due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We saw it as a nice opportunity to visit with friends and family again,”
said Cindy-Lee.
It took a lot of legwork to get everything arranged from Canada.
“Initially we didn’t want to do a video and were more focused on the photos. After talking to friends and family, we decided to get a video package as well. We would like to watch the videos again in the future … show them to our children one day.”
Grobbelaar says they came across duPlooyMedia, which is operated by Pierre du Plooy, in a South African bridal guide.
Grobbelaar says they already paid Du Plooy the quoted amount of just under R15 000 before the wedding in October. The package included, among other things, a videographer for the wedding day, its live broadcast, an additional videographer, drone videos and the editor’s choice, meaning they would receive their video within a month (instead of the usual 90 days).
Here things started to go wrong. On their honeymoon, the Grobbelaars inquired about when they could expect the short teaser video. Du Plooy argued that they still owed him money, but after a discussion about this he undertook to deliver it within a week, says Cindy-Lee.
More than five months later, they are still waiting.
Jaco says numerous calls and messages to Du Plooy from Canada, as well as from family members in South Africa, went unanswered. “Finally we contacted a lawyer and informed duPlooyMedia that we were going to start taking legal action against him,” says Jaco.
It was early January. Du Plooy replied that legal action would be unnecessary and the video would be ready the following week. “The next week… nothing,” said Jaco.
“He got a reminder letter, which he probably just ignored.”
Another complaint
A Gauteng photographer says he also shot a set with Du Plooy.
Du Plooy contracted him for a photo shoot in November, but never paid the R9 000 for it – even though the client duPlooyMedia had already compensated for the work.
It was the first time he did business with Du Plooy, says the photographer. “Unfortunately, I only saw the bad feedback after dealing with him.”
Despite Du Plooy’s promise that payment would happen at the end of February, it still hasn’t been done.
“He has since blocked me on WhatsApp and is not answering any of my emails.”
Allegations ‘taken seriously’
Cindy-Lee Grobbelaar says they still have the photos as a precious memory of their wedding day. (Photo: Mighty Fine Weddings)
In response to Rhewal’s inquiries, Du Plooy says the allegations against him are “without merit and unfounded” and that the false accusations damage his good name.
“I take these allegations very seriously and am prepared to take legal action to protect my company’s reputation and name,” says Du Plooy.
About the Grobbelaars’ video, he says: “I received full payment from the couple to stream their wedding day live. Editing the highlights video incurred additional costs, which they refused to pay. This led to a delay.
“Despite their incompatibility, I contacted them to resolve the matter.”
However, the Grobbelaars’ quotation shows that the streaming service amounts to only R2 999. The video package amounts to R9 999, then there are costs associated with an additional camera operator and another amount for drone footage. The “Editor’s Choice Combo” is indicated as free.
An earlier message from Du Plooy to the Grobbelaars states that he is giving the “editor’s choice for free” after he “twisted the cameraman’s arm”. The R14 397,30 would therefore include editing.
The Grobbelaars’ payment receipts also show that a total of R14,397.30 was finally paid to duPlooyMedia.
The Grobbelaars’ payment vouchers.
Regarding the Gauteng photographer’s outstanding payment, Du Plooy says the man was “difficult to work with” and that he “made continuous demands and threats” which made the situation “challenging”.
“Nevertheless, I am doing everything in my power to resolve the matter and I have full confidence that it will be resolved soon.”
Messages from the photographer to Du Plooy show that he repeatedly inquires about the payment and that Du Plooy undertakes to do so by the end of February. It still hasn’t been paid.
The Grobbelaars say they are considering a criminal charge and any other options.
However, they do not dwell on the bad experience and are now preparing for the arrival of their first child, a boy, in September.
“We are now full steam ahead preparing for the life of mother and father.”
