Gangster State

(Nora) #1

22


A blueprint for bribes


One of the most damning documents in the IgoFiles is an innocuous-
looking Excel spreadsheet titled ‘Free State Asbestos’. One cannot
imagine that many corrupt tenderpreneurs would be reckless enough to
create a document detailing exactly how they intend to share their
earnings from government with officials and politicians, yet this
spreadsheet appears to be exactly that.
It is not clear whether Mpambani or Sodi created the document, but
its creation date – November 2014 – is reflected in the file’s metadata.
It was later emailed between the two businessmen, and went through
various revisions. In essence, it appears to be a blueprint for the
distribution of bribes to Magashule and officials from the Gauteng,
Free State and national housing departments who played a role in the
asbestos auditing contract. Its very existence may explain why
Magashule and others wanted the FSHS to pay the Blackhead–
Diamond Hill joint venture, despite concerns from mid-level officials
that the deal looked suspicious.
Emails contained in the IgoFiles show that Sodi sent a version of this
document to Mpambani under the subject line ‘Fees Calculation’.
Mpambani then altered the document. Later, in March 2015 , in a draft
email intended for Sodi, Mpambani wrote the following: ‘Sho Eddie,
please note that payments in yellow are the ones you will take care of
and rest, us. As discussed, I have effected the payments in 2 batches.
Kindly find attached the updated schedule with minor adjustments.’ By
this point, Blackhead–Diamond Hill had received its upfront payments

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