Tebelopele, Gabz fm tussle in court
Mpho Mokwape | Tuesday May 26, 2015 16:55
Both TVCT and Gabz fm told court that they would resolve the matter outside the courtroom, and if they reached an agreement, they would draft a consent order and deliver it to court in due time. If the two parties fail to agree, the trial will commence in October this year.
The shameful boardroom wheeling and dealing came to the fore in 2012 when Gabz fm aired what is alleged to be a live recording of a meeting of the board members of TVCT.
In the tape, which was allegedly recorded in December 2011, voices reported to be those of chairman, Dr Boga Fidzani, Major Pius Mokgware, as well as the former Tebelopele executive director, Spana Motsisi dominate the conversation. A woman, believed to be Motsisi and a man, thought to be either Fidzani or Mokgware, express their interest in the position of executive director. At some point, a speaker tells his fellow board member that he cannot apply for the post because he is the board chairman.
The meeting also bandies about names of people who could possibly apply from outside the board, among them public health practitioner and activist, Leonard Manthe and the African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP) boss, Dr Themba Moeti.
A male voice then assures the female: “That one we can take care of him.”
The same male voice explains to the other board members that the sort of arrangement under discussion has been done elsewhere, mentioning the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana and Air Botswana. The male voice adds that they will ensure that the requirements for the job favour their chosen board member even if other applicants are better qualified. In the same recording the woman is advised to resign her job. At the time, Motsisi was working for MTN Business Solutions.
Motsisi had recently assumed her role as executive director at TVCT and it was reported that she holds a degree in accounting. The past acting director, Blessed Monyatsi, was reported to hold three degrees: a bachelor’s degree in social work, masters of business administration specialising in management, and a masters of art in social work. He had been with TVCT for eight years.
Motsisi is reported to have left TVCT early this year.
When the recording was broadcast on Gabz fm, TVCT denied that the tape was recorded in one of their board meetings. Fidzani said that he would resign if evidence to that effect were brought forward.
In an interview with Mmegi, Fidzani said appointing a board member to the position of executive director was not in conflict of interest since they followed procedure. He said they had advertised the position and several people had applied, including the current executive director.
Meanwhile, the Office of the President, US embassy and the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) are said to have started investigating the matter.
The US government, through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), funds the 12 year old TVCT centre.