Johannesburg - A politically connected businessman who sealed numerous lucrative deals with the government stands accused of failing to pay a Joburg company for the work it did on his projects.
Colleagues Sandile Ntlabati and Sifiso Nkosi told The Star that Moshe Motshekga - managing director of the Kamo Group of companies - owed their Bruma-based company First Option Electrical more than R800 000. They said their business was “drowning in debt” as a consequence.
Motshekga, they said, was the younger brother of ANC MP and former Gauteng premier Mathole Motshekga, who is married to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.
On its website, Kamo Group is described as an integrated infrastructural development and investment company which has interests in fuel supply, construction, property investments and shuttle services, among others.
Nkosi said Motshekga was appointed in 2014 by the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) to construct the Silverton Industrial Park at a cost of R56.2 million. In turn, Kamo Group appointed First Option Electrical to install electrical fittings for the project.
They quoted the group R139 466.67 and also invoiced them R512 047.11 for various orders. They said, however, that Motshekga was yet to settle his debt.
In another contract with Motshekga, Nkosi said they installed street lights for the group after it won a tender to construct phase one of the bus rapid transit system (Rea Vaya) for the Riverlea suburb.
“We invoiced them R154 249 74 for that project. Motshekga is yet to pay us,” said Nkosi.
In total, Motshekga allegedly owes First Option Electrical R805 763.52
Ntlabati said: “I called Motshekga in April and sent him our statement for both projects. Since then he has not answered our calls. He got paid in full for these projects.”
Nkosi said their attempts to get Motshekga to settle the bill had been an emotional and painful journey.
“As a result of the non-payment, we had to lay off some of our staff. Another problem is that our company is now blacklisted by suppliers due to unpaid accounts.”
Nkosi said their lawyers had tried to force Motshekga to pay, but to no avail.
“He (Motshekga) called Ntlabati, asking why we had involved lawyers in the matter. He allegedly told him: Do you know who I am? You're messing with the wrong person. I will pay you when I pay you’.”
Nkosi described Motshekga as an “arrogant, untrustworthy and politically connected” businessman.
When contacted for comment, Motshekga was unperturbed. He dismissed First Option Electrical’s claims, saying they would not benefit anything for taking the matter to The Star. He said he didn't owe them a cent.
“I'm not scared of newspapers. You can put me on the front page. They think I'm afraid because I'm a Motshekga. Newspapers won’t threaten me. I'm not in the wrong here. I paid them according to what was budgeted for,” said Motshekga.
The matter, he said, was a well-orchestrated conspiracy to drag his good name through the mud because he’s a Motshekga.
He admitted the Motshekgas were his family, “but let’s leave them out of this because they don’t know what I do”.
He claimed never to have seen any shady businessman's name being dragged through the media. “Why me?” asked Motshekga.
Prasa spokesman Victor Dlamini had not responded to questions emailed to him by the time of publication, and repeated attempts to get comment from City of Joburg spokesman Virgil James proved fruitless.
@luyolomkentane
The Star