As rifts in the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) grow the Mail & Guardian has seen irrefutable documentary evidence that its national treasurer, Themba Matsane, earned a staggering R7,5-million in 2008.
Matsane, whose income dropped to a still handsome R2-million the following year, refused to discuss his earnings when contacted for comment but two sources with access to the relevant accounts confirmed the figures. Popcru members have complained bitterly that some union leaders are living high on the hog at their expense.
This week Cosatu was called in to mediate after Popcru members and office-bearers called for the suspension of the union’s entire national leadership because of allegations of fraud and corruption.
Matsane’s lawyer, Gary Pritchard of Eversheds, refused to answer a question about Matsane’s earnings but said Popcru’s investment arm, the Popcru Group of Companies (PGC), had a properly constituted board of directors, which held AGMs and released annual reports, and accounted to its members through proper channels. “Accordingly, our client is no longer prepared to become engaged in a debate based largely on unsubstantiated allegations,” he said.
A former PGC board member, who asked to remain anonymous, claimed Matsane earned about R179 000 a month as the group’s executive chairperson, he received a monthly stipend from the union of between R10 000 and R12 000 and continued to draw a police captain’s salary.
The South African Police Service, which was asked if Matsane still earned his full police salary, did not respond to the question. Popcru members have accused Matsane of influencing the decision to contract his brother’s company to renovate Popcru House for R6-million without following a tender process. But Pritchard said Popcru and the PGC followed due process in terms of company policies, obtaining three quotations, of which the most favourable was that of Matsane’s brother. “After due deliberation by exco [executive committee], the contract was awarded to the treasurer’s brother. We are instructed that the work was carried out to perfection.”
Mediating
Zwelinzima Vavi, Cosatu’s general secretary, confirmed that the federation was mediating in the Popcru conflict, but Cosatu would not recommend that the national leadership should step down and an interim structure take over the running of Popcru pending an investigation, as the dissidents had demanded. “Everyone is assumed to be innocent until proved guilty,” said Vavi.
In Durban a planned march by union members on Popcru’s provincial offices, calling for the national leadership to quit, was called off after Cosatu stepped in. “We will await Cosatu’s response,” said Thami Gumede, former head of Popcru’s legal desk. “We’re saying you can’t retain the national leadership, which is under a cloud, and conduct an investigation.”
Gumede is one of six members and former office bearers named as defendants in a R1,5-million civil suit by Matsane and union president Zizamele Cebekhulu, who accuse them of defamation. The summons claims the defendants defamed them in an open letter about Popcru. The other defendants are a former board member of Popcru’s investment arm, Meshack Mpemva, the former head of Popcru’s organising department, Vukile Pambo, the former vice-president, Ntombizakhe Mcaba, the former general secretary, Abbey Witbooi, and a Popcru member, M Mokhelo.
Norman Mampane, the Popcru spokesperson, told the M&G that defamatory statements had been distributed to many institutions and some media houses. About accusations of the misappropriation of union funds Mampane said that Popcru had established its business arm through the Companies Act to promote the interests of members and Popcru’s business activities were subject to independent auditing by external auditors. But he said financial matters were sub judice because of the pending defamation case.
“The leadership views these injurious statements in a very serious light and trusts that our rank and file shall disregard them as worthless. Any discussions of organisational matters outside constitutional structures and the spread of rumours is uncalled for. We will defend the organisation by all means against attacks, including unmasking the agenda of all those involved,” said Mampane.
Cebekhulu and other members of the national leadership flew to Cape Town on Tuesday to address members of Popcru at Pollsmoor Prison. A union member said they had denied all allegations of corruption, adding: “Members wanted to know why office bearers have been dismissed and why they supported police Commissioner Bheki Cele after the public protector labelled his conduct improper and unlawful.
“They came to speak to us to defend themselves and deny the allegations. Members were upset because they didn’t get any answers.”
Vice-president fired after calling for probe
Police Captain Ntombizakhe Mcaba was fired as Popcru’s vice-president in December last year after calling for an external investigation into allegations of financial irregularity levelled against the union’s national leadership. Mcaba was seconded to Popcru in 2001 and elected its first vice-president in 2007. Since her dismissal, she has returned to her job at the police forensic science division.
“At a meeting last year I raised concerns about the alleged irregularities and implications for Popcru’s national executive committee,” said Mcaba. “I said the allegations should be probed by outside investigators as the union’s integrity was at stake.” Mcaba said she later received an SMS on December 5 from Popcru general secretary Nkosinathi Theledi informing her that a special national executive committee meeting had removed her as vice-president and from Popcru with immediate effect.
Deputy general secretary Lebogang Phetheng later sent her a registered letter stating that a central executive committee on December 6 had resolved to terminate her membership of Popcru with immediate effect. “I was fired without any disciplinary hearing,” said Mcabe. “Popcru then sent a letter to the South African Police Service saying I had been dismissed as a shop steward. It was strange that it called me that, not a national office bearer.”
Mcaba has appealed against her firing and expulsion, claiming that they are unconstitutional. Through attorneys Allardyce and Partners, the Popcru leadership said no member of Popcru had ever raised complaints about mismanagement. “The suspension of the former vice-president emanated from her activities of dividing the organisation,” they said. “A formal investigation was conducted against her for such activities.
She was offered an opportunity to respond to the allegations and did not avail herself. Even when charges were preferred against her in the disciplinary hearing, she failed to cooperate.” Mcaba has denied she was called to any disciplinary hearing or that she saw any charges against her.