Evidence given to the ANC during the investigation into the so-called “brown envelope” payment-for-journalists scandal, has revealed that then premier Ebrahim Rasool met two journalists and government officials at Leeuwenhof in 2005.
The journalists are former senior Cape Argus journalist Joseph Aranes and an unnamed journalist at Die Burger newspaper.
The evidence was contained in an interim report Western Cape High Court Judge Bennie Griesel released to the Cape Argus on Monday after the paper, under the umbrella of Independent Newspapers, lodged an application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act.
The report, compiled in 2006 by Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel, revealed the ANC’s internal investigating team did not interview Rasool or other key roleplayers by the time it was compiled.
The “brown envelope” saga relates to allegations that former Cape Argus journalist Ashley Smith and Aranes were paid by ANC office bearers in the Western Cape administration to write articles designed to promote Rasool.
The allegations included that Aranes and Smith were rewarded with government work or through work given to Inkwenkwezi Media Strategists and Communicators by various government departments.
At the time Smith was married to one of Inkwenkwezi’s directors.
Funds were allegedly channelled to Aranes and Smith via Inkwenkwezi, using Oryx Media.
However, in the interim report, the team that investigated the allegations did not make any recommendations, saying interviews with those allegedly involved in the scandal had not been conducted.
They said interviews were conducted in an atmosphere of fear and that representatives of Oryx Media – principal witnesses – indicated that to protect their business, they did not want to co-operate.
Later, they changed their minds.
The report details an account by Benny Gool and Roger Friedman of Oryx Media, who stated they were in St George’s Mall in the CBD in February 2005 and saw Aranes and Smith at the House of Coffees, together with a number of people.
They said Aranes told them: “Oh, so you will be paying us at the end of the month.”
He showed Friedman an SMS, which Friedman purported to be from the premier and the message was to the effect that: “Your payment will be sorted b Oryx.”
Aranes told Gool and Friedman he had organised a number of journalists at various publications to work for them.
Five days later, Gool and Friedman were called to the meeting at Leeuwenhof to “discuss the way forward”, but they left early because they did not understand the purpose of the meeting.
The following month, Oryx received an invoice for R100 000 from Rasool’s office for services rendered by Inkwenkwezi from March 1 to 21, 2005.
Days later, Rasool’s special adviser, Alan Roberts, met Gool and Friedman and raised the matter of “payment for Ashley and Joe and them”, promising they would be a part of the inner circle and would receive many tenders.
Roberts told them Rasool was likely to be a one-term premier and it was necessary to capitalise on his incumbency.
According to Gool and Friedman, the discussion centred on the need “for coloured people to keep Africans out” and Roberts had the impression that Oryx shared those views.
Gool and Friedman later told Roberts they were not interested.
They told the investigating team they believed a number of journalists were part of the operation.
Inkwenkwezi was paid R220 000 from April to August 2005 by the provincial Department of Local Government and Housing, the report stated.
There was no formal contract with Inkwenkwezi.
However, the team requested time to continue the investigation and conduct further interviews, saying the interviews were essential before it concluded its work.
The ANC has not indicated whether a final report was ever produced.
Judge Griesel said the report provided corroboration to the Cape Argus that none of its other employees was implicated in the course of the ANC’s investigation, and that “the very inconclusive nature of the investigation itself is something that may call for further investigation and comment”.
He ordered the ANC to pay costs.