Axe falls on Nafcoc official
LAWRENCE Mavundla, Nafcoc s president, has been suspended for allegedly stealing donor funds meant for the ANC.
Sunday World reported earlier this month that Mavundla allegedly pocketed more than R1.5-million that was raised during a charity auction in which former president Nelson Mandela s pictures and memorabilia were sold.
Mavundla was served with his suspension notice on Thursday following a meeting involving the organisation s officials on Wednesday night.
Sunday World can reveal Nafcoc s investment arm Silver Vanity board members also held an urgent board meeting on Wednesday and resolved to recall Mavundla as both chairman and director of the company with immediate effect.
Part of the resolutions taken by the board read: It is hereby resolved that Mr LB Mavundla be removed as a chairman and director of the company [Silver Vanity] with immediate effect for bringing the company into disrepute and bringing expelled people or parallel structures into the company.”
The board also removed Mavundla and Monga Phaladi as the signatories for Silver Vanity s Nedbank account. They were replaced by Sonyosi Sikhosana, Sekwamo Gilbert Mosena and Churchill Mrasi, who will take over as the acting chairman of Silver Vanity until next month s annual general meeting.
Speaking on behalf of both Nafcoc and Silver Vanity, Sikhosana confirmed Mavundla was suspended and said a committee had been set up to investigate the allegations that the former chairman stole money meant for the ANC.
The committee will report back to council in 14 days and the council will meet in 21 days to study the committee s report on the matter,” he said.
Sikhosana added the suspension came after the Black Business Council (BBC) wrote a letter of demand to Nafcoc about the ANC funds and their concerns that Mavundla was not responding to their queries.
The BBC appointed Mavundla s company Zimele Auctioneers to facilitate a fund-raising auction on their behalf last May, but the funds were allegedly never transferred.
They [BBC] gave us an ultimatum to take action or that we refund them the money that was stolen.
They also said Mavundla told them Zimele Auctioneers was a Nafcoc empowerment company, which was not true because it is his company. He misrepresented the organisation, said Sikhosana.
Mavundla could be expelled unless he pays back the BBC money and apologises to the council about his behaviour.”
But a fuming Mavundla said: You guys are after me and I m beginning to take things personally.
Please stop calling me or you will regret the day you were born. I don t care about you or what Sikhosana said to you.”