Mandela T-shirts ordered by BCM ex-deputy mayor, witness says
After Nelson Mandela’s death in December 2013, a Kwazulunatal company printed 20,000 T-shirts bearing the name of the former statesman and “a message” for nearly R600,000.
Mncwabe Printers’ owner, Kwazikwenkosi Mncwabe, was testifying in the Bhisho high court on Tuesday in a case in which former Buffalo City Metro officials, politicians and businesspeople are accused of fraud and contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act.
The charges relate to millions of rands allegedly misappropriated during Mandela’s memorial services.
Mncwabe, whose business is based in Pietermaritzburg, said he had been called by former BCM deputy mayor Themba Tinta after Madiba’s death, asking whether he could print the T-shirts.
He said Tinta asked him if he could deliver the printed Tshirts in less than a week.
“We’d done work for him [Tinta] before — not him directly, but the ANC in East London.
“I said ‘yes, we can print the Tshirts’. We were to print T-shirts with the face of Mandela and a message which I don’t recall.”
Mncwabe said he charged R29.50 for the printing of each T-shirt, totalling R590,000.
It was agreed that some of the T-shirts would be flown to Gqeberha while others would be transported by road to East London.
“Tinta said someone would be in touch regarding the order after the quotation.”
He said he had never met Tinta.
Tinta, former Dr WB Rubusana regional chair Pumlani Mkolo, former BCM mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, former speaker Luleka Simon-ndzele, former BCM councillor Sindiswa Gomba, former BCM supply chain manager Thembelani Sali, Ondela Mahlangu, Viwe Vazi, Nosiphiwo Mati and Nqaba Ludidi have all pleaded not guilty to their charges.
They are accused of pocketing about R10m in BCM funds intended for the Mandela memorial services in East London.
Tinta is representing himself in the case.
Mncwabe said his company invoice was paid immediately by Mantella Trading, which was then operating as Designer Lighting, owned by businessman Dean Fanoe. Fanoe is standing trial separately.
“They asked for their information to be put on the invoice as they were the ones that paid,” Mncwabe said. “After the quotation was submitted we noticed Thuthu [his former employee] had not included VAT.
“I explained that ... and it was fixed.” The VAT amounted to R84,560.
Mncwabe said he had not done business with BCM before. However, when Tinta cross-examined him, he said he had done business with Tinta before, on an occasion when Tinta placed an order for about 50,000 ANC T-shirts to be printed. “That order was paid by two companies, not by Tinta.”
He could not recall if Tinta had introduced himself as the deputy mayor when he called in December 2013.
The trial continues.