Arlington race course in spotlight
Ownership row at heart of probe
The Arlington race course in Port Elizabeth is the focus of an investigation by the public protector after its owners had been accused of alleged “thievery and smash-and-grabs”.
Eastern Cape businesswoman Phindi Kema is the main complainant in a legal brawl with the owners of the racecourse, Phumelela Gaming and Leisure – a company which Kema has accused of employing dubious business practices.
Public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s spokesman Oupa Segwale said the allegations of maladministration were being investigated.
Segwale said the probe involved the transfer of ownership of the Arlington race course to Phumelela Gaming, a company in which former Steinhoff chief executive Markus Jooste is a major shareholder.
Steinhoff made headlines recently when years of accounting irregularities at the company were exposed.
The investigation would include Jooste, but he was not the target, Segwale said.
Kema and Phumelela Gaming have been at loggerheads since 2013.
In its response to Kema’s allegations, Phumelela Gaming said the businesswoman had a “history of instituting meritless complaints and litigation”.
“This includes a matter in which Ms Kema appealed against a finding of the Competition Tribunal, without success, to the Competition Appeal Court and the Constitutional Court.”
Kema said she was not fazed. “This is simple, their thievery and smash-and-grab is going to come out at the public protector’s horseracing public hearing. ”
The public hearings are still to be finalised, said Segwale.