His side of story: how Barker responds

ORACLE Media owner Neil Barker has promised to investigate claims of fictitious charity beneficiaries and plagiarism.

He also said certain staff members at his company would be suspended and their conduct investigated.

Barker said he played an active role in his community and took pride in attempting to make a difference.

“In doing so, I rely on the cooperation of others and accept in good faith information provided to me . . .,” he said.

On the claims of fictitious charity beneficiaries in Cape Town, he said: “I . . . in this instance acted on a telephonic request for assistance. It was dealt with further by representatives in Cape Town.

“I did not have any reason to query whether the school existed and accepted the [report] I received with photos to be genuine.”

Regarding the plagiarism, he said: “. . . I do not edit or interfere [in] any of the articles and accept them to be original.”

Barker also allegedly contravened the Estate Agency Affairs Act in March last year.

“This statement made is not entirely correct but on the advice of my attorney I am not to comment further . . . save for indicating that at the time of the transaction my application for exemption and the required certificate together with the appropriate fees were lodged with the [Estate Agency Affairs Board].”

During a meeting with Weekend Post on Thursday, Barker said he did not know how much money had been raised when he was locked in a cage for 67 hours at the Boardwalk last year. He said the delay in payment to the SPCA in Uitenhage had been caused by people not paying their promised donations.

On his fake Cape Town office, Barker said it was an “administrative fault”. – Riaan Marais and Michael Kimberley