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The reply issued today by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, to a DA parliamentary question has contradicted what he said last week, and has shown that he was less than truthful.

Last week the Minister said that the allegations of wrongdoing against Chairperson of the Companies Tribunal, Advocate Simmy Lebala SC, had been proven false.

In today's reply, the Minister says he relied on the confidential forensic audit report detailing maladministration and corruption at the Companies Tribunal as the basis for that statement.

Considering the damning contents of the report in question, the two statements contradict each other. The Minister’s reply is disingenuous at best.

In fact, the report recommends that “the DTI take appropriate action and recover all irregular claims paid and overpayments made that cannot be explained to the Minister”.

The report contains strong prima facie evidence of serious wrongdoing by the Chairperson of the Companies Tribunal, Advocate Simmy Lebala SC, and the Deputy Chairperson, Ms Matshego Ramagaga, as well as other members of the Tribunal.

I tabled the report in the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry last month, calling for a full committee enquiry into the allegations and evidence it contains.

The report also clearly details the following findings:

• Firstly, that Advocate Lebala SC and Ms Ramagaga inflated their claims for fees and travel by at least R180 000 in one year, but possibly by much more than this;
• Secondly, that two consultants were appointed improperly by senior members of the Tribunal;
• Lastly, that senior members of the Tribunal did not co-operate with the investigation.
• Until the Minister can provide detailed proof that shows all irregular claims and overpayments made have been accounted for, the allegations have not been “proven false”.

Minister Davies' equivocal response adds more impetus to my call for a full inquiry into this matter, and the Portfolio Committee is set to respond to this call next week.

Rather than trying to shield certain individuals from accountability, Minister Davies should be committed to uncovering what is really happening at the Companies Tribunal.

Geordin Hill-Lewis Issued by DA