Mandela funeral saga: PAYBACK TIME

SOME of the people arrested for fraud relating to former president Nelson Mandela’s funeral have paid back the money they allegedly received.

The Saturday Dispatch can today reveal that East London business people Viwe Vazi and Dean Fanoe have already paid back what they are accused of receiving.

The two put the money into a special bank account created and managed by the National Prosecution Authority (NPA).

It was not clear yesterday who else has paid into the special account but the Dispatch has been reliably informed that a few others are in the process of making similar arrangements with the NPA.

Payment into the account is not an admission of guilt, sources said.

“This does not mean that they are free. They still have to face trial. Paying the money does not say they are guilty. This is to help them have access to their money as their trial might take months,” said a source close to the investigation.

The NPA won a court order to have the accounts of the 14 accused frozen two weeks ago.

The order gave the NPA permission to freeze the accounts of Fanoe, Vazi, BCM executive mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, her deputy Temba Tinta, speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele, councillor Sindiswa Gomba, senior BCM official Ondela Mahlangu and regional ANC boss Pumlani Mkolo.

Vazi’s Forty Wings was paid R899000 by Victory Ticket 750cc, a company owned by businessman Mzwandile Sokwali.

Fanoe’s Mantella Trading received more than R1.39-million.

The accounts of Sokwali, his wife Busisiwe Boti, and one controlled by Zintle Nkuhlu were also frozen.

Sokwali and Boti’s company, Victory Ticket 750cc, was given a contract by the metro to transport mourners to memorial services in the city during Mandela’s mourning period in December last year. The state alleges the money was instead shared among the accused.

The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) also froze the accounts of Above And Beyond Trading 102 CC and Circle Seven Trading 762 CC, owned by Vazi, and those of Sizisa Ukhanyo Trading 389, co-owned by Sokwali, and those of Bruce Arthur Johnston and Masixole Eric Poni, who are Fanoe’s partners.

Sources close to the investigation this week told the Dispatch that those who have paid into the account have access to their accounts.

The special account was confirmed by the NPA yesterday. “I understand some people who received money undertook to it pay back.

“Fanoe and Vazi have already paid some of the money they had received irregularly… so their accounts were not frozen,” NPA spokesman Tsepo Ndwalaza said.

A number of people had managed to pay what was being demanded by the NPA, he added. “A certain amount was paid but not the entire amount by these guys. They paid the amounts that were paid to them irregularly. There are people whose accounts were not frozen as they managed to pay back what they received.” Ndwalaza could not say how much had been paid back.

Vazi yesterday refused to comment. Gomba said she was still waiting to hear why she was arrested. “I did not receive any money so I don’t know anything,” she said.

Nkuhlu’s lawyer, Mongezi Ntanga, would also not comment. “I am not aware of this as I didn’t get any instruction from my client,” he said.

Bongani Qangule, who represents Sokwali and Boti, referred the Dispatch to the NPA.

“I am not really allowed to comment on the matter, but check with the case prosecutor,” he said.

Fanoe said: “Speak to my lawyer .”

Schoombee could not be reached. His office said he was away.

Mkolo’s phone was constantly off.

Another source said the state wants the 14 suspects to pay a collective R5.985-million into the special account. “They are asked to pay this as it hasn’t been proven by (in) court how much the suspects have taken from the account. It may happen that the R5.985-million was transferred back to one person, but at this stage we are not sure who that person is. If they can afford it, they must pay that amount.”–– mphumziz@dispatch.co.za/bonganif@dispatch.co.za