Issued by: North West Communication Service
27 NOVEMBER 1995
Ismail Ayob & Partners attorneys representing the North West Provincial Government are to issue summons against Mr Lucas Mangope after his attorneys failed to meet an extended deadline to respond to the demands made in a letter to Mr Mangope to them.
The government is claiming a sum of R18 479 819,78 being the loss suffered by it as a result of Mr Mangope's involvement in the alleged unlawful misappropriation of the funds, property and ser- vices of the government of the former Republic of Bophuthatswana. The demand flows from the SKWEYIYA Commission of Enquiry which un- covered mass misappropriation of funds in the former Bophuthatswana government.
Mr Ayob confirmed that Mr Mangope had not paid in the money demanded from him, nor had there been any response from Mr Mangope's attorneys despite their claims that a formal reply to the demand would be given to the North West Government's attorneys before the deadline. Mr Richard Nesbit, Mr Mangope's attorney assured the media that this reply would totally exonerate Mr Mangope of all claims and put a stop to any impending action against his client.
It was also confirmed by Mr Ayob that Mr Mangope's suspension as Chief of the Bahurutshe Boo-Manyane tribe which had been temporarily held back pending a reply from Mr Mangope in defence of his suspen- sion, is now effective given Mr Mangope's failure to respond timeously. His suspension follows the recommendation of the SKWEYIYA Commission that Mangope had made himself the sole signatory of the tribe's accounts and used some of the royalties for the tribe as part-payment for the farm, Alwynspoort, near Zeerust.
Issued by Malebo Phage Cell. 0825677825 (0140) 843226