Would-be Platinum Stars buyers slate management
PHOKENG: Platinum Stars’ prospective buyers – in a joint venture by the Machipa Legacy Foundation, NPC and Medimo 368 Engineering – have accused Dikwena’s management led by chairman Cliff Ramoroa of corruption and mismanagement.
Representatives of the joint venture also vowed to open a fraud case so that the individuals involved are brought to book and serve time in jail. Businessman Thabo Mokgatle of the Machipa Legacy Foundation hit out during a media briefing yesterday.
“There is no way we are going to leave them,” Mokgatle said. “When you are corrupt, you are corrupt and you must go behind bars. With my experience here, no one has gone to jail. They just fire you. But this time we have to make sure that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) comes on board. We are going to open a case of fraud so that they know that we aren’t playing. If their intention was to be richer through the club (they have something coming to them). There are only four people at Platinum Stars who control the team. The rest are not known. We are going to deal with those four.”
Mokgatle accused the current management of a number of illicit dealings including getting kickbacks from key players who have left the club as free agents, money laundering and corruption.
“I know that they will issue a statement to say what I am saying is wrong,” Mokgatle said. “But we are all politicians and they aren’t politicians. They are shy to talk to people. They only know radio and TV. We will challenge them. We will show them that we love Platinum Stars. We will show them any (wrongs) they have done.”
Dikwena’s management revealed at the start of the season that they had put the club up for sale but would only sell to someone who would keep the team in the region. Mokgatle revealed that they have proof that that might not be the case anymore, alleging that a consortium led by MEC of Education in Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, is among the people interested in buying the club. Lesufi and a consortium have been on a mission to revive Moroka Swallows, although their efforts to purchase Free State Stars fell through.
“He is one of the guys that somebody was bragging about that other day, saying that Panyaza Lesufi is going to get this team,” Mokgatle said. “He will never get it. Whether he is an MEC or not. We can buy the team. This team is not going to be converted to Swallows, unless someone says that I have partnered with Panyaza, but Panyaza has 30% and Bafokeng remains with 70%. We will agree to that (only). This club belongs to us. It is our money. It is our forefathers’ money. We must protect it by whatever means we can.”
Reached for comment on the allegations, Ramoroa said he had not heard them and would therefore not comment before ending the call.