AN OPERA singer who studied music in New York scored from the provincial pot meant for funeral arrangements for Nelson Mandela.
Gabuka Booi, owner of Bravo Africa, got the contract to supply T-shirts, poles and flags, according to one set of documents.
Other documentary evidence says he provided protective gear.
Six months after the event it is not clear exactly what Booi, who studied at the world-famous Julliard School, supplied – but whatever it was, he got R1.6-million for it.
The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) first paid R600000 to help Booi carry out his terms of the contract. Another R1-million then came from King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality.
This was all confirmed yesterday by Booi, whose company featured in an investigative report on irregular payments by ECDC for the funeral.
“I was paid R600000 by ECDC. The remainder was paid into my account by KSD municipality after rendering the services. In total, I was paid R1.6-million for my services to the municipality.
“I do not know about the other amount you are speaking about.”
The other amounts he questioned relate to his original asking price of R1.695-million, which was duplicated on a payment schedule with two separate order numbers by KSD.
Municipal spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said the second order was a mistake.
“That order number was a mistake and was cancelled and a new order was processed. After we discovered that there was a mistake, we cancelled it and we produced one order for promotional material and protective clothing with the institution’s corporate identity.”
The ECDC forensic report conducted by Fundudzi Forensic Services revealed that, like most payments linked to the funeral, a deviation “from normal procurement process” was made to accommodate Bravo Africa.
The report revealed that the company was given R600000 upfront as the R1-million would not be cleared immediately.
“From the documents provided, we determined that Bravo Africa submitted an invoice for the amount of R1.695-million.
“ECDC made a payment of R600000 to Bravo Africa for the supply of T-shirts, poles and flags.”
The forensic report further stated that during the review of documentation, they could not find any invoice from either KSD or provincial treasury to ECDC indicating the balance paid to Bravo Africa.
The funding parastatal’s spokeswoman, Nopasika Mxunyelwa, confirmed that R600000 was paid to Bravo Africa but not as a loan.
Opera singer joins Madiba fund list
Gabuka Booi, owner of Bravo Africa, got the contract to supply T-shirts, poles and flags, according to one set of documents.
Other documentary evidence says he provided protective gear.
Six months after the event it is not clear exactly what Booi, who studied at the world-famous Julliard School, supplied – but whatever it was, he got R1.6-million for it.
The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) first paid R600000 to help Booi carry out his terms of the contract. Another R1-million then came from King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality.
This was all confirmed yesterday by Booi, whose company featured in an investigative report on irregular payments by ECDC for the funeral.
“I was paid R600000 by ECDC. The remainder was paid into my account by KSD municipality after rendering the services. In total, I was paid R1.6-million for my services to the municipality.
“I do not know about the other amount you are speaking about.”
The other amounts he questioned relate to his original asking price of R1.695-million, which was duplicated on a payment schedule with two separate order numbers by KSD.
Municipal spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said the second order was a mistake.
“That order number was a mistake and was cancelled and a new order was processed. After we discovered that there was a mistake, we cancelled it and we produced one order for promotional material and protective clothing with the institution’s corporate identity.”
The ECDC forensic report conducted by Fundudzi Forensic Services revealed that, like most payments linked to the funeral, a deviation “from normal procurement process” was made to accommodate Bravo Africa.
The report revealed that the company was given R600000 upfront as the R1-million would not be cleared immediately.
“From the documents provided, we determined that Bravo Africa submitted an invoice for the amount of R1.695-million.
“ECDC made a payment of R600000 to Bravo Africa for the supply of T-shirts, poles and flags.”
The forensic report further stated that during the review of documentation, they could not find any invoice from either KSD or provincial treasury to ECDC indicating the balance paid to Bravo Africa.
The funding parastatal’s spokeswoman, Nopasika Mxunyelwa, confirmed that R600000 was paid to Bravo Africa but not as a loan.
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