Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Raymond Joseph and Tsoanelo Sefoloko
Published on 2024-04-05 11:45:01
The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) spent a whopping R1.7 million on a Women’s Day “flash mob activation” in 2021, which unfortunately never materialized. Instead of the anticipated public and spontaneous flash mob event, all the NLC received was a disappointing video showcasing three men dancing in high heels in an empty gym.
Despite the NLC’s efforts to promote the flash mob on social media, there is no evidence of the video ever being published online. The production of the video was entrusted to Elsiscope, a shelf company, raising suspicions as the NLC requested MSG, the owner of Power FM and Capricorn FM, to make the payment to Elsiscope. The invoice clearly states that MSG had no involvement with the video production and was only acting as a pass-through for funds to the service provider chosen by the NLC.
The video, featuring Lebo Molax’s dance group Boys In Heels, was of poor quality, with amateurish filming and substandard production values. It is unclear whether permission was sought or payment was made for the use of Whitney Houston’s iconic song “I’m Every Woman” in the background. Molax did not respond to inquiries from GroundUp.
In addition to the flash mob fiasco, MSG invoiced the NLC for R2.9 million, which included R1.2 million for a Women in Governance show on Power FM hosted by former NLC commissioner Thabang Mampane, as well as advertising for the show. The Auditor-General later deemed this payment as unauthorized expenditure.
Further investigations revealed that Elsiscope, the company responsible for the video production, was purchased just three months before receiving the payment from the NLC. Mbali Ncube, the sole director of Elsiscope, claimed to have no knowledge of the company, suggesting that her identity document was used without her consent for registration purposes.
The flash mob payment was just one of several payments totaling nearly R5 million that the NLC made to Elsiscope. The circumstances surrounding these payments are under investigation by MSG, as the individual responsible for the arrangements no longer works for the company.
In a separate incident, the NLC also paid a substantial amount for a virtual panel facilitated by Mampane at a Top Women’s Conference, with plans to screen the flash mob video at the event, which ultimately did not happen due to time constraints.
Mabontle Mokwebo, contracted as an NLC governance and ethics expert, was implicated in the instructions to MSG to pay Elsiscope for the video production. Mokwebo’s connection to other questionable payments made by the NLC, including MeloMotion, also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
The saga surrounding the Women’s Day flash mob and the subsequent investigations into the payments highlight the need for transparency and accountability within the NLC and its dealings with service providers. As the details continue to unfold, questions remain about the integrity of the commission and the individuals involved in these questionable transactions.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
