partner with a reputable entity as your esteemed organisation. As
discussed, we will embark on a trip to China with the Premier of the
Free State Province in July and would like to take the opportunity to
visit some of the functional [China U-Ton] sites.’ While it does not look
like this deal ever materialised, the exchange highlighted the fact that
Mpambani was involved in the province’s business dealings with
private companies and showed his continued proximity to Magashule.
The IgoFiles reveal that Mpambani used some of the money from the
fourth FSHS payment to sponsor a R 40 000 luxury holiday for Chris
Ackeer, Magashule’s aide and alleged fixer. Documents show that
Ackeer and two young women flew to Cape Town, where they stayed
in an upmarket apartment at the V&A Waterfront for a couple of nights
in early July. The trio racked up huge bills at restaurants and clothing
stores, which Mpambani seemingly paid using money from the
asbestos audit. Just two days before Ackeer’s trip, Mpambani paid
himself a ‘salary’ of R 100 000 from the Diamond Hill account. The
money was paid into his personal RMB cheque account, from where he
seemingly settled Ackeer’s holiday expenses. Ackeer denied that
Mpambani had paid for any of his holidays.
On 11 August 2015 , the FSHS paid a fifth instalment of R 36. 5 million
to the Blackhead–Diamond Hill joint account. Mpambani immediately
transferred R 12. 5 million to Diamond Hill and R 1. 5 million to 605
Consulting. He then drove from Johannesburg to Bloemfontein, where
he booked himself into his usual guesthouse. Magashule’s official diary
places him in Bloemfontein during this time. An email from Cholota to
Mpambani the next day suggests the businessman met with either the
premier or one of his representatives. ‘Good day. This was the initial
request send [sic] to the Premier,’ Cholota wrote at around 1 p.m. on
nora
(Nora)
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