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LCS management ‘Trim cabinet’ accused of Govt told nepotism PAGE 6
PAGE 6
SHADY MINE TENDER KANANELO BOLOETSE
M
ASERU – Former commissioner of mines, Tšeliso Ntabe, has been linked to a lucrative drilling and blasting tender at the Liqhobong Mining Development Company allegedly awarded to a joint venture of South Africa-based Basil Read and a Maseru-based Makamics Pty (Ltd) in 2017. Public Eye investigations have revealed that Makamics is a mining company equally owned by three businesses, Makana Mining and Civils (Pty) Ltd, Merero Mining Group (Pty) Ltd and ’Mesamohloane Investment Cooperative Society. Ntabe is linked to the cooperative society. Makamics was registered in December 2016, the same year Ntabe was appointed commissioner of mines. The following year, 2017, Makamics’ joint venture
with Basil Read was allegedly awarded a tender by the Liqhobong Mine and it is alleged Ntabe was intimately involved in the deal. At the time of the transaction, Makamics whose business activities include “mining of iron ores” and “mining of other non-ferrous metal ores” was less than a year old and had no track record in mining. Asked on Tuesday to comment about the allegations, Ntabe denied any wrong doing on his part, saying: “I am not a commissioner of mines,” adding he was given marching orders a long time ago. “I was suspended indefinitely last year, pending investigations. I never heard from the ministry from that time until I received a dismissal letter. I, however, did not challenge my dismissal,” he said.
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Friday May 25, 2018
News
Mines official linked to plum tender Continues from page 1 He could, however, not be drawn to explain his association with either Makamics or ’Mesamohloane Investment Cooperative Society. “ D o e s n ’ t t h a t c o m pa ny (Makamics) have its board of directors? I think those are the right people to give you all information pertaining to their company,” he said. He suggested that this paper’s sources should substantiate information linking him to Makamics before he can be confronted with the allegations and requested to respond to them. “I don’t understand what I am being accused of here. Am I accused of being a shareholder of a shareholder of a shareholder?” he further queried, requesting to excused before hanging up the phone saying he was in a meeting. The spokesperson of the mining ministry Rorisang Mahlo confirmed to Public Eye that Ntabe was suspended pending investigations before his dismissal in September 2017. It is still not yet clear when in 2017 a joint venture of Liqhobong Mine and Basil Read along with Makamics appended their signatures on a final mining drill and blast contract. Questions sent to both the mine and Basil Read on Tuesday had still not been answered late last night when this paper went to print. “This is just to acknowledge the receipt of your email. Will liaise with Basil Read and come back to you,” Chuma Siswana, Basil Read’s media representative said in an email on Tuesday. A well-placed source close to the alleged deal said, “Even if the contract was signed after Ntabe’s dismissal, the tender was advertised when Ntabe was still in office”. The source further indicated that Makamics and Basil Read submitted their bid when Ntabe was commissioner of mines yet they (the two companies) knew that “their business partner (Ntabe), commissioner of mines at the time, stood to benefit” if they won the tender. Liqhobong Mine is partly
owned by the United Kingdom (UK)-based Firestone Diamonds through a 75 percent shareholding. The Lesotho government owns the residual shares. The mining lease that Firestone Diamonds holds is reportedly valid until June 2021, with options to renew it by two additional periods of 10 years. The project primarily involves the development of an open-pit mine to a depth of 393m and construction of a main treatment plant (MTP). The controversy over the alleged tender has sparked outrage in some quarters, including among some government employees. The commissioner of mines, a member of the mining board or any authorised officer are prohibited by the Mines and Minerals Act from acquiring “whether directly or indirectly”, any right or interest in any mineral right or acquiring or holding any share or interest in a company, which is the holder of a mineral right. Public Eye is in possession
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of documents that show how ’Mesamohloane Investment Cooperative Society could have been used as a letterbox company by Ntabe to circumvent legal obligations. Records from the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s registry of companies show that apart from its equity stake in Makamics, ’Mesamohloane Investment also wholly owns ’Mesa Enegi (Pty) Ltd which was registered on March 27, 2017. ’ M e s a E n e g i ’s p r i m a r y activities are listed as “extraction of crude petroleum, extraction of natural gas, manufacture of gas; distribution of gaseous fuels through and retail sale of automotive fuel in specialised stores”. The records further show that ’Mesamohloane Investment owns 51 percent of another local company – ’Mesa Invent (Pty) Ltd – which was incorporated on April 3, 2017. The remainder of ’Mesa Invent shares are owned by a South Africa-based black women owned company, Inventiva (Pty)
Ltd. Ntabe was listed as one of the directors of ’Mesa Invent from April 3 to June 30, 2017. Documents filed with the trade ministry listed Ntabe’s private email address; tseliso.ntabe@ gmail.com under Makamics, ’Mesa Enegi and ’Mesa Invent’s contact details. The same records also listed Ntabe’s personal mobile phone number under ’Mesa Enegi and ’Mesa Invent’s contact details. When this paper dialled the number on Tuesday, the phone was picked by Ntabe. Sources who spoke to Public Eye this week on condition of anonymity indicated that Ntabe’s link to Makamics created a perception of a conf lict of interest. According to the Mines and Minerals Act, under section seven titled Functions of the Commissioner, the commissioner or an authorised officer may, in order to exercise any power or perform any duty conferred by the Act, “enter upon any mineral right area or any premises
thereon, other than a dwelling house”, for the purpose of amongst others, “ascertaining whether any nuisance or breach of environmental obligations exists in the area, premises, buildings or workings”. The commissioner can also inspect the area or premises, or examine the prospecting or mining operations or the treatment of minerals being exploited in the area or premises. He can “direct the holder of a mineral concession to produce for inspection any books, accounts, vouchers, documents or records concerning a mineral right”, and obtain any information he may deem necessary. The sources queried: “How would he be able to do these things, his primary responsibilities at Liqhobong Mine, while his company is one of the companies contracted by the mine? Let’s say there was a breach of environmental obligations by the mine, would he have taken any action against that mine, the mine that gave his business a lucrative business deal?” U p o n re g i s t ra t i o n i n Deccember 2016, Makamics had only two shareholders, Makana Mining and Civils and ’Mesamohloane Investment, with each stockholder owning 500 shares. Merero Mining Group came on board in September 2017 and received Makamics shares amounting to 33 percent immediately after it was registered in the same month. This paper’s sources show that Merero’s primary business was acting as a conduit for profits which flowed from the Liqhobong Mine drilling tender to people who have close relations with prominent people within the current government. Ac c o rd i n g t o a m i n i n g technology website, “the leading site for news and procurement in the mining industry”, Liqhobong Mine is considered to be the world’s third biggest undeveloped kimberlite resource, based on the contained carats. As of September 2015, it was estimated to contain probable reserves of 36.04 million tonnes (Mt) of ore.
Public Eye
Friday May 25, 2018 3
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Public Eye
Friday May 25, 2018 13
Women’s Forum News
What I mean when I say ‘despite’ LAURA MUSAMBAYI
I want to open my heart a little bit, with no intention of being indelicate. This thing of people taking issue with others saying Meghan Markle blah blah despite . . . This word “despite” I feel in this case, it’s being terribly misconstrued and wounds are being prodded for unnecessarily. I decry these attempts at sanitising Meghan’s story as if her challenges don’t matter. Let’s consider some truths: 1. For one reason or other, female divorcees (the world over), don’t have the easiest time finding love again. The why’s and wherefore are beyond the scope of my rant. I’m not saying they don’t deserve it. They absolutely do. But various circumstances including social
stigma, ignorance and twisted religion (yes, I said it!), have converged to ensure it’s more an uphill task for them than is necessary. 2 . R ega rd l e ss o f h ow liberal and imaginative you are, let’s admit that few of us saw, even in our mind’s eye, an African American, peacefully transitioning into the British monarchy. History testifies the extents that have been gone into to keep the royal pedigree. Now, I don’t believe Meghan to have been rescued by the Prince. Mm-mm! I’ m not even here to discuss whether the prince has his own closet. Let’s assume he does. The world is not saying “despite” about him, even though it probably should. Meghan is a very impressive woman and has been from childhood, if you’ve cared to watch her letter to Proctor and Gamble that resulted in a change of script for a national Ad. What I mean when I say she has done blah blah “despite” is that, I acknowledge the ups and downs she’s been through. I acknowledge that she has been through circumstances that commonly cause most people to
balk at future opportunities, be it in life or love. If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit this truth. I mean that Meghan remained unbowed! You can’t talk of “unbowing” if there are no winds and storms trying to “bow” the object you speak of. What do you guys mean we should not say “Despite”? Knowing the negative criticism she would face joining the royal family. The possibility she might have to change careers (who told you acting isn’t her passion or that it doesn’t pain her to leave it behind?); the intense scrutiny she’d been under globally, she made a decision to continue living by loving again. You, if I post an opinion you don’t like, you unfriend AND block me on social media, yet we would’ve never even met before. What will happen the day we open your closet and nit-pick through your laundry drawer willy nilly, without regard for your esteem AND inconsiderate of the consequences you live, when the original sins weren’t yours? Now the people saying it should not be “despite”... what
word would you have me use to celebrate the deliberate decisions Meghan made to live and really live even when there were good reasons to choose otherwise? There are places when to use “despite” is to be frowned upon, indeed, discouraged, but here, no! I respectfully disagree. For as long as we keep it about Meghan choosing what’s best for Meghan in light of her circumstances and not anyone doing her a favour, it is unfair to sanitize her experience. Should we also stop saying uMama Winnie was phenomenal despite living during apartheid? Should we stop saying Holocaust and Genocide victims have forgiven despite being deeply hurt by their very trusted friends or neighbours? If one were to say, Prince Harry turned out pretty sober despite losing his mom at a ve ry te n d e r a ge, a re t h ey automatically saying ALL boys who lose mothers at a young age grow up rather frivolous? I don’t think so. Perhaps from their observation, more often than not, they do, or if it were them, [the speaker], they understandably might so that
they are astounded/impressed that the outcome is different. We know the tendencies of the human heart to wickedness and surrender following prolonged suffering. So allow us to say “Despite “ to distinguish the times when the human spirit has triumphed. Please, let’s not sanitize these stories. If nothing, because we take away the tales of courage and resilience and tenacity that inspire hope in those who want to dare to try again and again... at school, at work, at auditions, at parenting, at AA, at careers, even at love. Also because it stops us from asking ourselves serious questions like, “what am I doing to ensure future generations don’t live in a world where a monarch marrying a nonCaucasian, divorcee is cause for long-winded status updates?” What I mean when I say “Despite”, for all the people daring out there when life has given you a reason to quit, is congratulations for trying it one more time anyway! *Laura is a medical doctor and upcoming writer from Kenya.
220518 Met Heroes Day HP A4.pdf 1 5/23/2018 4:26:43 PM
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“…we all are in pursuit of one collective destiny. We all need just One. One dream, One day, One hour, One minute, One second, One moment.” -One, Sage Hanson
18
Public Eye
Friday May 25, 2018
News Release
News
Theft of goods and unacceptable service at Moshoeshoe 1 International Airport It has come to the attention of the Management of three Agencies based at Moshoeshoe 1 International Airport namely: Lesotho Revenue Authority, Civil Aviation and Air Link, that there are incidents of theft of goods alleged to be taking place at Moshoeshoe 1 International Airport. The Management of these Agencies are concerned about the incidents as they are divergent and totally against the laws of Lesotho, code of ethics and good conduct on the part of their employees and everything that the Agencies represent. These unfortunate incidents are currently being investigated. The LRA Management, working in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, are viciously working towards The LRA Commissioner General, Civil Aviation Director, Airlink Manager, curbing similar occurrences by streamlining the processes Airport General Manager, Client representatives and other officials doing the cargo process walk-through at the Moshoeshoe I International Airport of all Agencies based at the airport. The majority of these incidents have been reported through social media and other mainstream media outlets such as radio. All LRA clients and members of the public in general, are urged to approach the LRA Public Relations & Communications (PRC) Office to make formal reports and provide more clarity to help speed up and complete investigations. The PRC can be contacted via telephone: 52215531 or 52215107 or email: t.mncina@lra.org.ls or p.mphana@lra.org.ls. The LRA has also been made aware of unsatisfactory service with regard to processing of declarations at Moshoeshoe 1 International Airport. Likewise, LRA is working on this issue and appeals to Declarants to always contact the Manager Clearance Hub should they consider the time taken to process their declarations longer than anticipated. The Manager can be contacted via telephone: 52215518 or email: l.lefielo@lra.org.ls. The Clearance Hub email can only be used by Declarants or their representatives (Clearing Agents) and the email address is clearanceHub@lra.org.ls. To this end the Management of these Agencies met on the 23rd May 2018 at Moshoeshoe 1 International Airport in the presence of client representatives to discuss the issues raised and agree on the way forward. They have since resolved to set up a Task Team that will come up with short and long term interventions that will help curb occurances of these unfortunate incidents. The management of these Agencies apologise for inconveneinces caused.
The weighing process of cargo received being demonstrated
The Airport officials briefing the management of three Agencies about the cargo process.
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Friday May 25, 2018 9
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Friday May 25, 2018
Africa News Affairs
S
outh African photographer Sam Nzima dashed to the scene of a shooting during the June 1976 students’ uprising against apartheid just in time to see a child falling to the ground. It was when another student picked up the dying 13-year-old Hector Pieterson that Nzima clicked to take one of the most iconic photographs in history, becoming a symbol of the brutality of the white minority regime, which flashed around the world. In a 2010 BBC interview, Nzima, who has died aged 83, recalled: “I didn’t know who it was. I saw a child falling down. “I rushed there with my camera. “And I saw another young man pick him up and as soon as he had picked him up, I started shooting the pictures. “It was a very high risk because this picture was taken under a shower of bullets,” he said. The self-taught photographer Born in August 1934, Nzima, the son of a farm labourer, was fascinated by photography after a teacher at school had shown him how to use his camera. A young Nzima bought his own camera and began taking pictures in the world renowned Kruger National Park. B u t h i s ow n sto ry a l s o illustrated the injustice of the apartheid regime which the students were protesting against. His father’s employer, a white farmer, forced him to work in the Eastern Transvaal, now known as Mpumalanga. After nine months’ hard labour, he ran away to the country’s commercial hub Johannesburg, where he found a job as a gardener in one of the posh suburbs. In 1956 he was employed as a waiter at the Savoy Hotel and began to take portraits of his fellow workers. He continued honing his skills even after he moved to the Chelsea Hotel and that’s where he began reading the Rand Daily Newspaper. He was transfixed by stories that were critical of the apartheid government written by the late award-winning journalist and editor Allister Sparks in the newspaper. Nzima started sending his own pictures to The World newspaper and also submitted a story he had compiled while travelling on a bus. The editor was so impressed with his work that he employed him as a full-time staff photojournalist in 1968. In 1976, high-school students began to protest against being forced to study in Afrikaans - seen as the language of the apartheid regime. This breathed new life into what had become a lethargic struggle against white minority rule. The government reacted with brutal force and hundreds of people were killed on that cold Wednesday morning in South Africa’s largest township, Soweto. I was in the crowds and the singing of anti-apartheid liberation songs was powerful.
A woman holds the iconic photograph taken by legendary photographer Sam Nzima in 1976
Sam Nzima: The man behind the iconic photo of the fight against apartheid
The late Sam Nzima fled to Johannesburg to escape hard labour I saw students with clinched fists raised to the air chanting Black Power. When the police fired into the crowds, who like me were wearing school uniforms, it was terrifying. It was the very first time I smelled tear gas and saw a trail of white smoke shoot into the air against a blue sky and coming down to choke us. B u t i t wa s Nz i m a ’s internationally acclaimed photograph that came to symbolise the protests after it was published on the front pages of major newspapers around the world. Soon after the uprising, the white minority regime placed Nzima under house arrest for 19 months just for taking that picture. Time Magazine listed Nzima’s iconic photograph as one of the 100 most influential images of all time.
But it was only in 1998 that he finally won a long legal battle to own the copyright of the photograph which he had taken. It is believed that until then the picture’s copyright belonged to the institutions he worked for. Nzima’s son Thulani said this delay cost his father huge amounts of money. “By the time we got the copyright, those who wanted to use the image for commercial purposes had already extracted the value,” he said. “The second thing is that it took about 18 years for even our own government to finally recognise Sam Nzima as the man behind the picture, while he is still alive. “In that time, we have seen various applications of the picture, some without even asking for
copyrights, and I’m talking even from our government structures.” It is not known how much money he could have earned had his rights to the photograph been recognised from the start but his ultimate success in the courts did not lead to much of a pay-out. He owned a village liquor store, and was not a wealthy man when he passed away. He also served as a local councillor in Mpumalanga. ‘The camera was an extension of his body’ Nzima was honoured with the bronze National Order of Ikhamanga on Freedom Day in 2011, when the president bestows South Africa’s highest honours to individuals who have contributed to the betterment of the republic. “This means a lot to me and my
family,” he said at the time. “I had so many awards in my life but this will be very close to my heart because it will be coming from the president of the country.” President Cyril Ramaphosa, one of the anti-apartheid struggle’s student activists, also sent his condolences. In a statement he said: “Sam Nzima was one of a kind. “We will especially remember his iconic photograph of a dying young Hector Pieterson, which became a symbol of resistance against the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in the black schools.” An old friend of Nzima’s, Prof Somadoda Fikeni said: “Sam Nzima was humility personified. He was always down to earth and he inspired me to finish my own photography course.” “I do think that a click of one image, which became iconic, was the best way to speak a million words to the world as to what was happening behind the iron curtain of apartheid,” Mr Fikeni told local media. Veteran journalist Thami Mzwai who worked with Nzima in the 1970s, including covering Steve Biko’s funeral together, said: “He was a rare breed of a photojournalist. “The camera was an extension of his body. “It automatically clicked. “The image became a living testimony of what the journalist was writing about because the apartheid police were very quick to deny their acts of brutality.” He also did his best to inspire the next generation of photographers by setting up a photography school in Mpumalanga. -bbc
Public Eye
Friday May 25, 2018 21
Real Madrid vs Liverpool:
Internation Sport Adverts News
Could James Milner be key to Champions League final?
T
he Champions League final will be contested by the highest-scoring teams in this season’s competition, with two of the world’s most potent forwards on display. Real Madrid are chasing a record 13th title - and their third in a row - while Liverpool can move above Bayern Munich and Barcelona into third (behind AC Milan) in the list of most E u ro p e a n C u p/C h a m p i o n s League wins if they are victorious in Kiev. The fixture has all the makings of a classic, but what can we learn from the stats heading into the match? With more than 90 goals between them in all competitions this season, it is hardly surprising the Champions League final has been billed as a battle between Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah. Both are sure to be in the running for the Ballon d’Or at the end of 2018, but it is a man who is unlikely to receive any individual accolades who could hold the key to success in Kiev. James Milner made headlines in the semi-final against Roma when he took his tally of assists in this season’s competition to eight, equalling the tournament record set by Neymar in 2016-17. That total is three more than Real Madrid’s entire midfield of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Isco, Marco Asensio and Casemiro have managed between them. Milner’s increased productivity in the final third has been the most notable aspect of his Champions League displays - he has gone from an assist every 588 minutes in the Premier League to one every 99 minutes in Europe. But there has been more to his superb European form than just creating goals. The former England midfielder, already a strong performer domestically, has raised his game in the
Liverpool’s James Milner and Mohamed Salah Champions League in almost every statistical category. And, despite Real Madrid’s
proud European record, Milner may never have a better chance to create goals for his team-mates
in a final, since the reigning champions are anything but secure defensively. -bbc
Serena, Sharapova poised for last-16 clash Three-time champion Serena Williams will face Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic in the French Open first round after the draw was made on Thursday with a potential clash against bitter rival Maria Sharapova in the last 16. Former world No 1 Williams, now ranked a lowly 453, is playing a Grand Slam for the first time since she won her 23rd major at the 2017 Australian Open after which she stepped off the tour to give birth to her daughter in September. Pliskova, the twin sister of world No 6 Karolina, has never
Maria Sharapova with Serena Williams won a main draw match at Roland Garros. Williams has played just four
matches on the tour in 2018 and not featured at all since Miami in March.
Sharapova, champion in 2012 and 2014, could face Serena in the fourth round. The Russian who missed last year’s event after she was refused a wild card as she battled to rebuild her career following a 15-month doping ban, has not defeated Williams since 2004. To p s e e d a n d two - t i m e runner-up Simona Halep faces Alison Riske of the United States in her opener while second seed and Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki starts against another American, Danielle Collins. –AFP
Iniesta signs with Japan’s Vissel Kobe
Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta said he dismissed offers from elsewhere to join Vissel Kobe because they showed they had “trust and confidence” in him. The 34-year-old completed his move to the Japanese topflight side after leaving Barca, where he spent 22 years. “I had a lot of offers, other clubs showed an interest in me,” said the Spain international, who is reported to be on a $30m (£22.39m) annual salary. “I chose Vissel Kobe because it was an interesting project.” He added: “There was also a lot of trust and confidence in me as a person and also as a player - that was a big reason.” Kobe owner Hiroshi Mikitani said Iniesta help the next generation of players. He said: “I am confident Iniesta’s philosophy, leadership and DNA will be a terrific inspiration, not only for Kobe but Japanese football society.” Mikitani added: “We look forward to Iniesta not only strengthening the team’s performance but also contributing to the development of the next generation of players through the introduction of the Iniesta methodology to the youth academy. “We believe his decision to come to Japan will have a major impact, not just on Vissel Kobe, but on football in Japan and Asia.” Iniesta won 32 trophies at Barcelona, where he made 674 senior appearances, having joined the youth set-up aged 12. His last game for the club came in Sunday’s La Liga win over Real Sociedad. The Spain international tweeted he was going to his “new home” on Wednesday and he will now join former Arsenal and Germany forward Lukas Podolski at Kobe. Iniesta will wear the number eight shirt, with his new side sixth in the J-League after 15 games, having finished ninth last season. Mikitani added: “Iniesta will raise the profile of Japanese football globally and we are working on activities to leverage his presence here and promote the J-League worldwide. “I am very proud to see this day come. We will do everything in our power to support Iniesta during his time in Japan and show us all his beautiful, inspiring play.” Iniesta, who scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final against the Netherlands, has been selected for Spain’s squad for next month’s tournament in Russia.