Mbalula in R680k Dubai trip scandal

Police Minister Fikile Mbalula has found his name trending again after Eyewitness News published a report saying a sporting goods supplier allegedly paid at least R300 000, possibly as much as R680 000, for a trip to Dubai by the minister and his family last year.

At the time, Mbalula was sports minister, and the company that allegedly partly paid for his trip was doing business with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc).

EWN is reporting that Sedgars Sports, a company that has been a supplier of clothing to Sascoc for more than a decade, sponsored the trip by channelling money through an apparently inactive company.

Sascoc’s Jessica Choga reportedly confirmed to EWN that the company supplied clothing worn by SA’s Olympic athletes and officials. The sports body, however, did not have a formal contract with the supplier, though it continued to buy clothing on a needs basis.

Mbalula and his family reportedly departed from Joburg on December 28, and returned on January 3 this year. The family’s entire holiday package reportedly cost about R680 000.

Two payments were reportedly made from a bank account linked to the inactive company on February 28, 2017 – the first of R200 000 and then a further R100 000 – to a Johannesburg-based travel agency.

It is not clear how or when the remaining balance on the trip was settled, but it is believed it may have been paid in cash, reports EWN.

When Sedgars Sports was asked about the trip, director Yusuf Dockrat responded by saying the company “has never made any payments as alleged”.

When contacted for comment, Mbalula was quoted as saying: “What is the name of the company or the person who paid for the trip?”

“Maybe Guptas (sic) paid for it.

“I take this as invasion (sic) of my privacy and calling into question my family responsibilities without an iota of proof how a private trip or vacation become a media query (sic).

“Those who allege wrongdoing should equally furnish you with facts. Now this is more like a witch-hunt and you jump into it. This is really unfair and abusive.

“You are invading my privacy if you think I’ve transgressed executive or members code [sic] as you claim. My family trip is a confidential matter in terms of ethics code. So, once again, this is a private matter and there’s no conflict of interest whatsoever. My rights are reserved,” he told the publication.

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