Reports emerging over the weekend claim that R6-million was paid to Communication Minister Dina Pule’s boyfriend when the organiser of the inaugural ICT Indaba was pressured into hiring him.
The Sunday Times claims to have seen to documents relating to the matter: one from Werksmans that was commissioned by MTN; and one an affidavit the conference organiser Carol Bouwer submitted to Parliament’s ethics committee.
The newspaper reports that the R6-million was ostensibly for a management fee to Phosane Mngqibisa’s events company Khemano.
The actual event organiser, Bouwer, received a R2-million fee.
In addition, it has been reported that Mngqibisa also had access to Bouwer’s bank account and made withdrawals of further millions.
The ICT Indaba was held in June last year.
The Department of Communications funded it to the tune of R10,5-million.
In addition, telecommunications companies MTN, Vodacom and Telkom were invited – by Pule personally – to contribute to the event, which they did via sponsorships amounting to R25,7-million.
The Sunday Times claims to have seen to documents relating to the matter: one from Werksmans that was commissioned by MTN; and one an affidavit the conference organiser Carol Bouwer submitted to Parliament’s ethics committee.
The newspaper reports that the R6-million was ostensibly for a management fee to Phosane Mngqibisa’s events company Khemano.
The actual event organiser, Bouwer, received a R2-million fee.
In addition, it has been reported that Mngqibisa also had access to Bouwer’s bank account and made withdrawals of further millions.
The ICT Indaba was held in June last year.
The Department of Communications funded it to the tune of R10,5-million.
In addition, telecommunications companies MTN, Vodacom and Telkom were invited – by Pule personally – to contribute to the event, which they did via sponsorships amounting to R25,7-million.