Jonas denies benefiting from SAA deal
Former deputy finance minister accused of being involved in B-BBEE deal with airliner
FORMER deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas has denied allegations that he benefited from a B-BBEE contract with SAA Technical (SAAT).
Jonas’s name was mentioned in the evidence of Sibongile Sambo, a director at SRS Aviation which supplies helicopter rental services, at the Zondo Commission yesterday.
Sambo’s evidence was largely based on prospective business deals that her company hoped to partner with a US-based aviation supplier company, AAR Corporation. She said that she had hoped to work with AAR in supplying aviation components to SAAT.
SAAT from 2013 had issued various tender bids for the supply of aviation components, however, only one of the bids went through.
Sambo had hoped to form part of the bid application proposals solely with AAR, but other individuals joined the application to secure a five-month components supply contract for SAAT. The groups formed a B-BBEE consortium with Sambo’s company, SRS, receiving a share, and other individuals also received a share in partnership with AAR.
Sambo told the inquiry that businessman Bongani More had been holding a 13.33% stake in the consortium for deputy finance minister Jonas as they were relatives.
Jonas was also mentioned in Sambo’s evidence regarding a meeting that took place in Cape Town between AAR representative Cheryl Jackson and a Mr Bagus, who had allegedly arranged the meeting, had strong political connections and was a BEE expert.
Sambo said she did not know what had been discussed at the meeting as she was not invited. Jonas disputes Sambo’s accounts. He admitted that he had attended a meeting in Cape Town, but said there was nothing untoward about it. “It is correct that I was invited to a dinner in Cape Town where I was introduced to a Ms Jackson, a representative of AAR, whom I was informed was interested in investing in South Africa. I told her that she should speak to the relevant management of SAA. I made it clear that I was not involved in the management of either SAA or SAAT. I do not believe that Ms Sambo’s unsubstantiated allegations should be left unchallenged,” he said.
Jonas also denied ever being involved in a B-BBEE deal or having any relations with More.
“This is false. She provides no evidence for this gratuitous allegation, other than what is colloquially referred to as ‘double hearsay’.
“The allegation that I am related to Bongani More or that he held shares on my behalf in the BEE consortium that participated in a response to a tender with AAR is false. I have never held any interest whatsoever in any BEE consortium that partnered with AAR,”
Jonas said. “I have limited personal knowledge of the relationship between AAR and the BEE consortia with which it sought to partner. Neither of the allegations she makes about me are based on any personal knowledge, nor has she provided any documentary evidence for the allegations made,” he said.
Sambo also made a various allegations against some SAAT board members about their dealings with AAR. Those implicated include former SAAT board chairperson Yakhe Kwinana. Sambo alleged that Kwinana had requested a R100 million bribe from AAR if they were to secure the tender bid for the components tender.
AAR was eventually awarded a fiveyear components tender with another B-BBEE partner while Sambo’s AAR was excluded. Sambo said she was devastated when she heard that she had been sidelined for another BEE partner and had not been paid for her work with AAR.