Premier sued for R2.3m party bill

Durban 14-08-2015 Nick Dranias who is Suing the Premia's Office for not paying for the club. Picture by: Sibonelo Ngcobo

Durban 14-08-2015 Nick Dranias who is Suing the Premia's Office for not paying for the club. Picture by: Sibonelo Ngcobo

Published Aug 16, 2015

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A Durban businessman is suing the office of the premier in KwaZulu-Natal after he had to close down his Florida Road restaurant because the government failed to pay him for his services.

Nick Dranias, 39, who owned De La Sol, a popular bar and restaurant, has also levelled allegations of corruption and fraud.

This includes payments he received being reflected as hotel accommodation.

The incidences relate to about five years ago when Zweli Mkhize was the premier.

However, Mkhize has not been implicated in any wrongdoing. Instead, the accusations have been made against the former spokesman for the premier’s office, Ndabezinhle Sibiya, who Dranias met in 2010.

“All of the big hotshot ANC guys used to frequent my venue. One day, I was approached by Ndabenzinhle and he said that he needed my services to plan and host events.

“I have been in the entertainment and events industry for 20 years and have a lot of experience. I saw this as a great opportunity to network, and accepted his offer,” Dranias said.

He organised several events to the tune of just over R3 million. They included:

- The ANC’s razzmatazz pre-election campaign in April-May 2011;

- The East Coast Radio Durban Day media launch;

- The 2011 Aids/Rebirth of Life Concert;

- The 2012 Moyo’s Fashion by the Sea event; and

- The 2011 Getting to Zero campaign and Metro FM Heatwave.

Dranias said he had been promised payment but did not receive the money. “I contacted Ndabenzinhle and he said that the budgets for the year (2011) had been depleted. I would have to wait for the new budgets.”

However, he still did not receive any money.

Dranias was then told he would be paid from a travel budget via a company called Chanti Travel Agents.

“I received an e-mail from the agent with a voucher for a hotel stay for one night; the cost on the voucher was R114 000. I thought this was an error so I contacted Ndabezinhle and he said that this was how payments were made, especially when certain departments had excess budgets.

After the initial payment was processed, Dranias received three other payments from Chanti Travel totalling R213 000.

He did not receive the remainder of his money but attempted to claim it by meeting with the chief financial officer, Zipathe Walter Cibane, at the premier’s office, as well as the director general, N V E Ngidi.

“The DG promised me that the matter would be resolved by July last year. It has been more than a year since then, and I have not been paid. I have had to resort to legal action. I have also approached the DA for help,” Dranias said.

According to letters from the premier’s office (which Dranias obtained), Sibiya had failed to follow proper procurement processes. As a result, any payments would have to be done in a manner that did not result in irregular expenditure.

For Dranias it is little comfort.

“I was a successful business owner. I owned De La Sol for nine years and it was booming. But obviously, in order to keep any business going, one needs income. I battled to pay my rent because I had invested so much into these government events. I didn’t realise that they would let me down this badly.

“Their argument is that I did not sign any contracts. But we had oral agreements and there is proof of the events. I never thought a government entity like the premier’s office would act in such a corrupt matter. I wonder how many other people they have done this to.”

In a summons issued to the premier’s office, Dranias has claimed R2.3m plus interest and legal costs.

According to his attorney, Mike Pedersen, if the money is not forthcoming, the matter will go to trial.

Spokesman for the premier’s office, Thami Ngwenya, confirmed that the summons had been received.

“Mr Dranias has been asked to provide documentary proof of his allegations to address their vagueness and we are still waiting for it.

“The office of the premier, particularly under the leadership of Premier Senzo Mchunu, stands for the protection of the stature of the office and treats any issue that is contrary to this position with all the seriousness it deserves,” said Ngwenya.

When contacted, Sibiya said: “I will comment when the time is right. My turn will come one day.”

DA MPL Sizwe Mchunu said the matter was a serious one.

“This is just another example of fraud and corruption within one of the highest bodies in the province. We demand an answer from the premier and a commitment that it will be investigated,” he said.

Attempts to contact Chanti Travel were unsuccessful.

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Sunday Tribune

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