Mokgoro says he did not approve airports’ R50m
NORTH West Premier Professor Job Mokgoro wants to appear before the Zondo commission probing State capture following allegations that he might have influenced the irregular payment of R50 million to South African Express (SAX) in 2015.
At the time of the alleged irregular payment to SAX to manage the provincial airports of Pilanesberg in Rustenburg and Mahikeng, Mokgoro was holding the fort as acting director-general following the appointment of Supra Mahumapelo as premier in May 2014.
Mokgoro is adamant that he did not have the power to approve or disapprove such a prepayment from a provincial entity of government.
The allegations were made by North West department of community safety and transport management chief financial officer, Kutlwano Phatudi, at the commission on Friday.
Phatudi was testifying about the alleged involvement of former premier Mahumapelo’s office in the approval of the payment for the management of the two airports.
Detailing the history of the payment, Phatudi said her provincial head of department, Bailey Mahlakoleng, wrote to Mokgoro requesting the R50m prepayment. The money was paid on March 26, 2015.
Phatudi said the department received an invoice to make the R50m prepayment to the airline, but the amount had not been budgeted for.
She said the SAX contract was only concluded on March 31, 2015.
“I do not understand how the invoice came before the conclusion of the contract,” she said.
Yesterday, Mokgoro indicated his intention to appear before the commission and clarify his role when the payment to SAX was brought to his attention.
Mokgoro’s spokesperson Vuyisile Ngesi said: “The North West Premier has noted the mentioning of his name during the testimony of the Chief Financial Officer of the Provincial Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Ms Kutlwano Phatudi, at the State Capture Commission on Friday.
“Premier Mokgoro wishes to place it on record that the mention of his name does not necessarily mean he is implicated in any wrongdoing,” Ngesi said.
Ngesi said Mokgoro was prepared to appear before the commission should he be subpoenaed to do so, saying he would co-operate and was available to give evidence before it.
According to Ngesi, the community safety and transport department “was obliged to inform the then acting director-general (Mokgoro) about the payment.
“Mokgoro, while acting, did not have the power to approve or disapprove the payment,” Ngesi said.