Skweyiya says PetroSA boss took his pension

FORMER minister Zola Skweyiya has accused the new PetroSA chairman, Tshepo Kgadima, of tricking him out of his life savings.

The retired former ambassador to the UK, who served 15 years as a cabinet minister under Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki, spoke openly this week about his frustration over receiving no help from the gov- ernment to get his pension back from Kgadima.

Skweyiya, who invested about R1-million of his pension in a company run by Kgadima, said he was trying to get hold of Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson, whose department was responsible for Kgadima’ s Petro SA appointment.

On Friday, Joemat-Pettersson distanced herself from

Kgadima’s appointment, saying that PetroSA fell under the control of the Central Energy Fund.

A frustrated Skweyiya said all he wanted was help from the government to force Kgadima to pay back his money. “No one has assisted me yet. I am still trying to resolve the matter as amicably as possible . . . Tshepo must just pay me my money . . . most of it was my pension.”

Skweyiya said he had been told that Kgadima had been trying to discredit him among ANC leaders since the story of the new chairman’s controversial background broke last week.

Joemat-Pettersson’s spokeswoman, Zodwa Visser, said: “The minister does not appoint the board members of PetroSA, their holding company the Central Energy Fund appoints their board.”

However, Joemat-Pettersson issued a Government Gazette three months ago calling for the nomination of PetroSA board MISSING MONEY: Former minister Zola Skweyiya members. She later sent a list of shortlisted candidates to the energy fund board.

Kgadima refused to answer questions when he visited Times Media Group offices in Joburg this week.

Instead, using his cellphone, he video-recorded journalists and asked them questions. He and a woman companion were escorted out of the building after Business Day editor Songezo Zibi complained that Kgadima was harassing him.

This week the Sunday Times spoke to several businesspeople in Limpopo who claimed Kgadima had persuaded them to invest their savings in his LontohCoal company about four years ago.

Pat Maisela, the owner of a small construction company, said he invested R50 000 after he was told that Lontoh had shares in mines in Zimbabwe and Mpumalanga, and that it was going to be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

“They recruited so many people,” Maisela said. “They told us the shares are going to grow and accrue.”

Another investor, Pule Monama, said he had given up on getting back his R30 000.

“Every time you inquire about what happened to your money, you are given a long story,” said Monama.

Those whom the Sunday Times spoke to were impressed by Kgadima’s silver tongue. “He can smooth-talk his way into your account,” said Monama.

The disgruntled shareholders said they did not have enough money to take Kgadima to court.