Controversial businessman, Sandile Majali, was found dead in his room at the Sandton Quatermain Hotel in Johannesburg on Sunday, the general manager said.
“He stayed with us last night, and I can confirm that he was found passed away this morning,” general manager, Rosy Chilewitz said.
Chilewitz however, could not give details of when he checked into the hotel.
“I cant give you anymore details on that, all I can say is that he was with us last night, police are dealing with the rest,” she told Sapa.
Gauteng police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini, said he could not confirm that the man found dead was in fact Majali, but could confirm that a man was found dead in his room, at the hotel at 9am.
“We cannot confirm the man found dead was him, as family need to identify the body...We can say that paramedics were called to the room where they pronounced him dead after he was found by his girlfriend.” Dlamini could not say whether the man had any known injuries to his body, and what seemed to be the cause of death.
“An inquest into this has been opened,” he added.
Moneyweb website reported that Majali's lawyer John Ncebetsha, said the family were preparing a statement “while coming to terms with their loss”.
Majali, who was said to be in financial trouble, came into the public eye following his role in the so-called Oilgate saga that saw him “donate” R11-million of PetroSA's funds to the ANC ahead of the 2004 elections.
He was arrested in October by the SAPS Commercial Crimes Unit, appeared in court on fraud charges and was released on bail -
after directorship of mining company Kalahari Resources was changed from Brian Amos Mashile and his sister Daphne Mashile-Nkosi to a group of eight individuals including Majali.
The two siblings had to bring an urgent interdict before the High Court in Johannesburg to get themselves reinstated as directors of the company.
Kalahari Resources owns a 40 percent stake in Kalagadi Manganese, the mining company developing an R11 billion manganese mine and sinter plant in the Northern Cape, as well as a smelter at Coega.
The Industrial Development Corporation owns 10 percent of Kalagadi Manganese, while steel producer ArcelorMittal owns the remaining 50 percent stake.
Majali was due to appear in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court again on January 18.
His three co-accused Stephan Khoza - who was arrested with Majali -Haralambos Sferopoulous, and Elvis Bongani Ndala, recently appeared in court over their mental fitness to stand trial.
Earlier this month, Kalahari Resources legal representative Heinrich Meiring, said it was found that Khoza's psychological assessment revealed that he suffered from schizophrenia and paranoid delusions amongst other mental health problems.
Meiring said according to Khoza's psychiatrists, he did not have the mental capacity or ability to distinguish between right and wrong as a result of his mental illness.
Sferopoulos and Ndala were also be sent for psychological assessment and their results will be heard alongside Khoza's in the High Court in Johannesburg on January 11.
They are all listed on the Internet as directors of the “South African Community Government Union” (SACGU). Its website, www.sacgu.org, carries bizarre graphs and pictures.
According to the website, Khoza is the “Master” of the SACGU, Ndala the “deputy” and “doctor” Sferopoulous in charge of “economics”.
An extract from website's home page says SACGU tasks include:
“Overseeing the multinational people of the Republic of South Africa, united by the common fate of our land, establishing human rights and freedoms, civic peace and accord, preserving the historical established state unity, proceeding from the universally recognised state principles of equality and self-determination of peoples...”
Meanwhile, members of social networking site Twitter, late on Sunday evening expressed their views following the news of Majali's death, with new tweets at almost each minute.
Some tweeted: “My gut feel is that Sandi Majali was eradicated by some powerful entities uncomfortable with what his trial might have revealed”,
“More like 'who won't fall when he can't testify?' RT (at)bkonnek:
Who stands to benefit from the fall of Sandi Majali”, “What must not be confused for concern is the glib commentary on Majali death. So another person, albeit one with fraud issues, dies. Blah” and “Can't wait for a statement from Luthuli House! (at)r2kcampaign:
Sandile Majali found dead -how did he die? And who benefits?” -
Sapa