Only God can provide the cure to our sinful human nature, Pastor Colin Davids posted on his Facebook page this week. Apart from using the social media platform to dish out moving spiritual messages that allude to the darker side of life, Davids utilises it to punt his allegedly illegal foreign-exchange trading business.But the charismatic Cape Town clergyman may soon be singing from a different hymn sheet after the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) this week seized goods worth R138-million on suspicion that Davids is running a pyramid scheme.Among the goods seized were upmarket homes in Plattekloof and Hermanus, several bank accounts and seven cars, including three top-of-the-range BMWs, two Jaguars, a Range Rover and a Volvo.His luxury lifestyle is aptly summed up in his quotes on his Facebook page: "Don't wait for things to happen - make it happen. You are destined to be a success. Be good, do good."mini_story_image_hleft1The AFU said Davids, a sole member of the company Platinum Forex, allegedly lured unsuspecting victims to invest in a pyramid scheme with promises of as much as an 84% return on their foreign-exchange investments. But because of the unrealistic returns, the scheme collapsed.Davids, who is alleged to have collected more than R100-million since he started the scheme in 2013, is a pastor at New Direction Grace Church in Parow. His wife, Charlyn, is due to launch her debut gospel album next month.Coincidentally, notorious Hard Livings gang boss Rashied Staggie visited Davids's church in May to ask for forgiveness. Staggie was released on parole recently after serving a lengthy jail term for gang-related crimes committed on the Cape Flats.The AFU, which falls under the National Prosecuting Authority, brought an application to have Davids's assets frozen after a probe by the Financial Intelligence Centre, the Financial Services Board and the Hawks.The High Court in Cape Town granted the preservation order on Monday pending an AFU application to have the assets forfeited.The court will appoint a curator to compensate scheme victims if the order is granted.The Hawks are also investigating a criminal case against Davids and his company.full_story_image_hleft2NPA Western Cape spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said the court order had saved hundreds of people from falling prey to Davids's alleged scheme."Davids [allegedly] used some of the investors' funds to pay for two immovable properties, in Plattekloof and Hermanus, motor vehicles for his wife, Charlyn Anthea Davids ... and household expenses from retail stores such as Woolworths, Checkers and Pick n Pay. These assets are regarded as proceeds of unlawful activities," Ntabazalila said.But Davids this week derided the NPA's claims and vowed to defend himself in court.story_article_right1He said his business had never purported to be an investment company and he had communicated this to the Financial Services Board numerous times.He said his company did not get money from investors, but from creditors as loans, which it then used to trade in the forex market, using the profits to pay off the debt."It is basically a very vicious attack to discredit and derail a sound business because they haven't done their homework properly and don't have facts and information together."We have very strong proof. We have put a case together to show that the NPA's case is just replete with erroneous information, that it is trying to discredit a healthy and normal-functioning business."In a testimonial letter written in March in support of Davids's application for an operating licence from the Financial Services Board, Davids's spiritual leader, "Apostle" Peter Barnes, described him as a generous giver to the church."I know him as a person of high morals, impeccable character and a person of great integrity," said Barnes."He has a strong belief in community transformation and has a very generous heart towards community upliftment."nombembep@sundaytimes.co.za..