Lebohang Maketa
Billy Ntaote
THE controversial government vehicle fleet tender has taken a new twist after Lebelonyane Fleet Services shareholder Lebohang Maketa distanced himself from his colleagues’ demands for government to award them the lucrative fleet management contract they argue was taken from them.
Mr Maketa’s disclosure has come after some of the company’s directors filed a Constitutional Court suit seeking to compel the Finance Ministry to cancel its contract with Bidvest Bank Limited and for the provision of fleet services.
However, Mr Maketa on Monday absolved the government of any wrongdoing and instead alleged his estranged colleagues including Letsatsi Mabona, Mantsikane Khali and Kereke Moteletsane were actually imposters who had no legal standing to claim to be lawful directors of Lebelonyane Fleet Services. He said they should not be levelling damning accusations at Finance Minister Dr ’Mamphono Khaketla in the name of the company.
“I want to clear my company’s name and put to a stop claims by these imposters calling themselves directors of Lebelonyane as they have been tarnishing the government’s image and that of the Finance minister,” Mr Maketa said at a press conference in Maseru.
“Mabona, Mantsikane Khali and Kereke Moteletsane had to step down from the directorship of this company after it was realised their presence would taint the company’s image and I was left with other people in the company who are not at the forefront of this fracas made by these imposters against the government for deciding not to award us that tender.”
Mr Maketa also came to the defence of Dr Khaketla saying allegations there was a meeting where the minister used her “personal friend” Thabo Napo to solicit for a M4 million bribe for the tender to be awarded to Lebelonyane Fleet Services were false.
“When the tendering process began, we realised we were could not afford to buy the vehicles required and we lacked the necessary experience in the fleet management services hence our decision to enter into a joint venture with Fleet Africa,” he said.
“We gave the company the go ahead to take the majority shareholding while we became minority shareholders in the joint venture. We made it to the evaluation process but a change of policy on the part of government to cancel the bidding process and buy its own fleet and partner with a foreign company only providing the professional management services came as a shock to our company.
“It is unfortunate that the tender was not awarded to us but it is wrong for the imposters to continue to abuse the name of my company against the government.”
However, Mr Mabona and other members of the company who had also attended the press conference dismissed the allegations they were imposters and argued Mr Maketa had been paid to turn against his colleagues.
Mr Mabona said they found it “shocking” Mr Maketa’s press conference was attended by known allies of Dr Khaketla.
