Firm rejects Outa’s graft allegations

One of the fintech companies implicated in the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) report for allegedly paying millions of rands in kickbacks to the Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande, National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) chair Ernest Khosa and the SA Communist Party (SACP), has says it was not involved in any corrupt activities.

Ismail Ally, the chief operating officer of eZaga Holdings, said his company firmly rejects any allegations of its involvement in discussions, reports or recordings related to this matter.

He said eZaga did not participate in any of the alleged discussions with any stakeholders, including Outa.“We reassert that we were not involved in any discussions, reports or recordings mentioned in the Outa report.

“We strongly dispute any implication by association of our involvement in the reported discussions,” he said.

Ally added that eZaga had procured legal representation to address the allegations surrounding the contract cancellations. “The company is prepared to initiate further legal action to defend its rights and reputation against any baseless allegations,” he said.

Outa recently released a report and voice recordings, that claimed there were irregularities with the tender processes through which Coinvest Africa, Tenet Technology, eZaga Holdings and Norraco Corporation were appointed as service providers in October 2022.

Nzimande has refuted the accusations, dismissing them as “false” and asserting that he has conducted his affairs above board and that he has “a clear conscience”.

He said: “I wish to once again assure the South African public that as minister of higher education, science and innovation, I have never used any money from any of my department’s entities for the purpose of funding the SACP as was maliciously and falsely suggested in the Outa report.

“Nor have I received any kickbacks from any of the service providers to Nsfas or any of the other entities falling under my department.”

Meanwhile, Khosa has opted to take a one-month leave of absence to allow the board to address the allegations made against him, as reported by Nsfas this week.

The company is prepared to initiate legal action to defend its rights and reputation.

Ismail Ally COO of eZaga Holdings