/ 20 January 1995

Wild times on Ozzie eco tour

Justin Pearce

WESTERN CAPE environment and tourism MEC Lerumo Kalako has spent the past week defending himself against smears made by a man who allegedly masqueraded as an official in his department.

Kalako has promised to sue Nick Malherbe, who has publicly accused him of misappropriating public money. Malherbe made these accusations claiming to be Kalako’s “special adviser” when, according to Kalako, he never held such a position.

Most of the accusations arise from a visit by both Kalako and Malherbe to Australia.

The allegations, categorically denied by Kalako, have attracted considerable media attention, coming as they do so soon after accusations of misappropriation made against Dr Allan Boesak, who, until recently, was also an ANC MEC in the Western Cape government.

Democratic Party provincial leader Hennie Bester has entered the fray, claiming to have documents supporting Malherbe’s claims. Kalako has also threatened legal action against Bester.

Malherbe, a member of the Western Cape Tourism Board, volunteered to accompany a delegation led by Kalako which last year visited Australia to attend an eco-tourism conference and to liaise with South African Tourism Board (Satour) representatives in Australia. Kalako says he accepted the offer on the understanding that Malherbe had personal contacts in Australia who would be helpful to the delegation.

According to a report from a Satour representative in Sydney, Malherbe used a home-made business card which indicated he was an employee of Kalako’s department.

Kalako, backed by the report from Sydney, has accused Malherbe of drunkenness and offensive behaviour during the trip, which he says gave him reason to doubt Malherbe’s integrity.

Malherbe also deposited R15 000 of Satour money into a section 21 company, The Rainbow Trust, which was apparently established by Malherbe without Kalako’s knowledge. The R15 000 was intended to fund the co-ordinator of Kalako’s Strategic Management Team, Lizo Ngcokoto, to accompany the trip to Australia. Kalako said he had decided against Ngcokoto going on the trip as he was busy setting up the tourism department in Cape Town.

Malherbe has since accused Kalako of using R2 141 in tour funds for his own purposes, and for running up a R2 000 phone bill for personal calls. Kalako has responded that since the trip was funded by the Western Cape Tourism Board, he left the management of expenses to Malherbe, as the board representative. Malherbe kept the travellers’ cheques, and even then, Kalako claims, he constantly had to remind Malherbe to retain cash slips so that all the money spent could be accounted for after the trip.

Kalako also said Malherbe was trying to put pressure on the ministry to pay for a birthday party which Malherbe had organised as a surprise for Kalako at the exclusive Kelvin Grove club, of which Malherbe is a member.

The Western Cape Executive Council has ordered an investigation into the accusations. Malherbe could not be reached for comment.