Is Katholo wearing coat of many colours?
This DIS- DCEC fight is confusing, very confusing to say the least! The more one attempts to get a clear picture, the blurrier it gets. The more one seeks a balanced opinion, the skewed it gets.
Typical of stories of this nature, there are always three sides to it - Magosi’s side, Katholo’s side, and the truth. As a precaution, always acquaint yourself with both sides of the story, no matter how inconvenient and unpopular it may be. That is the burden of objectivity.
After reading DIS’ answering affidavit filed by Jet Stephen Mafuta to Tymon Katholo, it is very hard for one not to call the latter a liar. Perhaps, even a pathological liar. If the affidavit is anything to go by, then this ‘ super- hero’ image of Katholo is nothing, but a construct of an unfolding nefarious plot of political chicanery at play.
The further one reads into Mafuta’s affidavit, the more they are likely to be convinced that Katholo may be a pawn in the greater scheme of things. Instead of being a hero, he may be a villain.
Perhaps, he is being played by his side, to further their ulterior motives. Perhaps, he is being played by both sides. In this industry, you can never take anything at face value. But something is not adding up. Let us take it from the top. In this political guacamole of a story, Mafuta’s affidavit, contends that Katholo’s version of events is actually a poorly- crafted work of fiction. He is, in fact, bellowing in hallow wilderness.
Mafuta argues, Katholo is on stage, performing to the court of public opinion, than the court of law. And before going any further, may I hasten to give credit to his, rather uncharacteristic flow, organisation and logic to his presentation. It is without bias that I say it compatriots.
Mafuta elaborately contends that the issue at hand between DIS and DCEC involves only two issues; one being, progress into DCEC’s investigations into Isaac Kgosi “in respect of the acquisition, ownership and registry of firearms.”
Secondly, it is the involvement of Seleka Springs in the acquisition and installation of Crypto AG’s encryption solution at DCEC at the cost of P5 million. Mafuta states, “gross irregularities with the tender process” and “loss of government revenue on account of the failure of the encryption solution.” According to Mafuta, this has solely been the basis of their engagement with the DCEC and may I say there is correspondence to that effect.
According to Mafuta and the correspondence thereto, Katholo has been ‘ uncooperative’ regarding these two issues, particularly the Crypto AG matter. They have on numerous occasions, according to correspondence, requested to ‘ interview’ some DCEC officers on the matter but to no avail.
They say, during a ‘ rare’ occasion, where they got to interview Project Manager of the encryption solution and Procurement Manager, it was “revealed” that it was in the custody of Katholo and his Staff Officer and “were not acting in any of these files and had not assigned any of his officers to action the said files.” Mafuta says it was on this basis that he reached a “reasonable suspicion” that Katholo was “stalling and obstructing” investigations into Kgosi and Seleka Springs. Hence, they decided that since Katholo was in Rwanda at the time, his office be sealed to “protect integrity of evidence in their custody.” The offices were apparently sealed in the presence of DCEC’s Director Legal, Acting Director General and Deputy Director General Operations. After getting Mafuta’s side of the story and seeing the correspondences thereto, I find it disturbing, perhaps too disturbing that in both of Katholo’s affidavits, he mentions none of these issues, in particular, the issue at hand, which is the Crypto AG issue. I wonder if this omission is by default or design. He instead, chooses to address issues that Mafuta states, “the sealing of the 2 offices, have nothing to do with files which were being investigated by the DCEC or access to dockets.”
I am of the view that Katholo would be in a better moral position, if he were to give his side on the issues raised by the DIS and the correspondence thereto. Any other thing is not material at this point in time. It is just bringing office politics into public space to sell victim mentality.