Kase Lawal, the lynchpin of the deal, this week provided his version, and former minerals and energy minister Penuell Maduna denied all knowledge. Inquiries to President Thabo Mbeki, current Minister of Minerals and Energy Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, state oil officials and African National Congress office-bearers were met with one-line replies — or stony silence. Here are their responses:
Thabo Mbeki’s spokesperson Bheki Khumalo: “The president will have to investigate all the facts before responding.” Khumalo pointed out that the president was currently in Nigeria and communications were awkward.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka’s spokesperson Kanyo Gqulu: “Because it was a deal between [the Nigerian] government and a private-sector company we cannot comment.”
State oil company PetroSA spokesperson Nhlanhla Ngwenya, asked about an alleged attempt by the company to have the contract re-allocated to itself: “I have nothing to say to you.”
Rod Crompton, Department of Minerals and Energy Deputy Director General of Hydrocarbons: “We don’t comment on any oil deals.”
ANC treasurer general Mendi Msimang: No response to questions including what ANC fundraiser Miles Nzama’s role was on the board of the South African Oil Company and whether the ANC benefited.
ANC fundraiser Miles Nzama: No reply.
Kase Lawal (through his lawyers, who stressed that the deal was a “private commercial arrangement” between Lawal’s company and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation): “During 1999, and as occurs every year, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation [NNPC] advertised in various newspapers an invitation for trading companies to apply to buy and lift Nigerian crude oil.
“Since the Camac Group had been operating, lifting crude and investing significantly with global energy firms in Nigeria for several years it applied for the right to buy and lift Nigerian crude oil. It was one of some 18 trading companies who succeeded.
“The entity which applied for and obtained the above rights was South African Oil Company, a company registered in the Cayman Islands.
“It is important to note that the Camac Group has a full and proper infrastructure in the Cayman Islands. The reason for the reference to South Africa in the name of the Cayman company is that, at the appropriate time, the Cayman Group intended to extensively develop its oil interests in Africa, and particularly in South Africa.
“The Cayman company is not to be confused with South African Oil Company (the South African company) which is a company registered in South Africa but which does not trade, has no assets and, to all intents and purposes, is dormant…
“The invitation by NNPC was to trading companies. The assertions relating to South Africa and/or its government [as the entity allocated the contract] are accordingly incorrect…”
“The South African company has never had any contractual or financial involvement in the above contract. It is a private commercial arrangement between the Cayman company and the NNPC.
“As far as our clients are aware, in 1999 the South African State President sent a letter to the President of Nigeria as a gesture of support for the Camac Group. It should not be ignored that, at that time, the Camac Group employed several hundred people in South Africa and intended to invest in South Africa, which it has done.
“At present the Camac Group employs approximately 1500 people in South Africa.
“[President Mbeki’s] letter can hardly be given the generous interpretation of meaning that South African government officials were at various stages involved in attempts to secure the contract/securing increases in the volume of the contract…”
“No political party or politician in South Africa has ever benefited from the contracts. Similarly, no political party or politician in South Africa has benefited from donations by Mr Lawal and/or any entity within the group.”
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