Stefaans BrUmmer and Marion Edmunds
THE auditor who “exposed” mismanagement of R7,8- million by the former leadership of the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) is an old contact of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela — and was embroiled in the controversy surrounding Hazel Crane’s failed “gift” of a luxury Cape Town house to Madikizela-Mandela.
ANC spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa this week confirmed the ANCWL national working committee was unhappy with Jeffrey Manning’s audit. Senior ANCWL members told the Mail & Guardian that Madikizela-Mandela, who is president of the ANCWL, had suggested Manning as an independent auditor last year.
The working committee decided at a meeting this week — where Madikizela-Mandela was not present — to recommission the audit.
Manning — whose qualifications to practice as an auditor in South Africa have been questioned — earned R90 000 for the audit, which questioned the integrity of some of Madikizela-Mandela’s foes in the organisation. Details of the audit were leaked to the media last month.
Manning was a member of a close corporation, Edinburgh Drive Properties CC, which bought the Cape Town property last year after an attempt by Hazel Crane, a close friend of Madikizela-Mandela’s and a convicted diamond dealer, to buy the R675 000 property as a “gift” for Madikizela-Mandela came to naught.
Manning confirmed to the Sunday Times last March that he had bought the house “as an investment”, but claimed no connection with either Crane or Madikizela-Mandela. He was reported to be the sole member of Edinburgh Drive Properties.
However, details provided to the M&G by the Registrar of Companies late last year showed that Crane’s husband, Shai Avissar, was listed as a second member of the close corporation.
Approached by the M&G at the time, both Crane and Manning denied Avissar had any connection to the close corporation. Said Manning: “He’s never been a member. I formed the corporation … Where the registrar got Shai Avissar I don’t know.
But Manning did confirm: “I know Shai and I know Hazel Crane and I know Mrs Mandela as well.”
This week, Manning said: “I purchased the house at Edinburgh Drive. It had nothing to do with Mrs Mandela.”
He said he had known her for “a couple of years” but had never “done physical work” for her, although he had advised her from time to time and been involved in “the odd” financial negotiation on her behalf.
A senior ANCWL member said this week she was “surprised” to learn of Manning and Mandela’s earlier association, because Manning had been presented as an independent outsider by Madikizela- Mandela.