A veteran poet and playwright now producing TV shows has reached the end of his tether trying to get his business partner to play by the book, to no avail.
He claims his partner’s unilateral decisions have set him back no less than R2million in unpaid director’s fees.
Walter Kefuoe Chakela co-owns LCat Television Production with Ailsa Tulloch, whom he blames for irregular transactions on their business bank account, done without his consent. The company produces TV shows such as Shift, It’s for Life and Grand Masters for the public broadcaster, all flighted on SABC 2.
Their kiddies’ show Hey, SA! has since been discontinued. Chakela suffered a debilitating stroke in 2013 while preparing for the wedding of his youngest daughter and he complains that ever since, Tulloch has run a one-woman show at LCat, to the detriment of the company’s balance sheet.
While he says he has recovered, Chakela still speaks with difficulty. He is wheelchair-bound but says he is now able to stand and walk unaided around his Glen Austin, Midrand, home.
He says he’s called for a company meeting with Tulloch, a request he has not been granted. In one email correspondence he asks to meet with his business partner claiming: “There are very disturbing and urgent matters that we need to discuss formally, in a company meeting.”
Among the urgent matters he needed discussed were “the large transfers from the company account, without authorisation and explanation”.
He has pleaded with Tulloch to try run a tight ship at LCat, he says, but his partner seems to be determined to swindle him. In the same email, he says he dropped Tulloch, he warns: “All transactions through the LCAT account should cease as a matter of high priority; failing which, this matter will be submitted to the authorities, and the SABC board.”
He has written to the head of Educational Television at the SABC, Danie Swart, red flagging the questionable transactions on their business account, conduct Chakela says he thought Swart would understand to be a clear breach of the public broadcaster’s funding policy.
He warns Swart regarding “further evidence of the behaviour that I find highly questionable, on the part of my partner”. In his response, Swart contends he finds nothing untoward on the part of Tulloch’s conduct.
Chakela’s gripe involved funding for Grand Masters, and asks “whether there is a bank account for Grand Masters”.
In response, Tulloch says: “Of course there’s an account for Grand Masters. There are funds, otherwise how could I pay out the R146000 to the Grand Masters account (ATTV).” Chakela only got to know of the existence of such an account upon inquiry.
In one email Tulloch writes: “Good afternoon Walter. I would like to advise you that I AV McDermott will be transferring the sum of R146877.60 from the LCAT account to ATTV for Grand Masters. I will send you an email with all the details. Ailsa.”
To which Chakela promptly responds: “This shows the magnitude of the problem, and the urgency to deal with it. LCAT has no agreement with AV McDermot (sic), as a conduit to funnel funds to Grand Masters. This is somebody’s personal account, to which company funds are transferred.”
McDermott is Tulloch’s new married name. Chakela says “she is much divorced”.
Chakela’s only lament is that Tulloch has arrogated to herself the role of sole decision maker. In one new contract she signed - again without Chakela’s express consent - with Footprint, a new studio she moved LCat to, she signs herself off as managing director. “We are partners,” Chakela says sadly.
At one time Chakela writes: “I asked for a payment schedule, two weeks ago. But now I get notification, after payment is done. This is most irregular!”
Tulloch says: “I have made a promise that I will keep you abreast of all interactions and I will stick to that. As you know, no payments have been made in or out of the account this month because of the 2016 tax issue.”
But this is a promise, one of many, she does not keep, Chakela says.
At his wits’ end, Chakela says he has no option but to take Tulloch to court.
Contacted for comment, Tulloch says: “I have known Mr Walter Chakela as a friend and business partner for more than 12 years. At no time during all these years (until suddenly now) has he ever accused me of ‘misappropriating’ company finances. I am obviously deeply upset and shocked by what is being alleged, which I consider to be highly defamatory.”