Kgosi's 'dead' contractor unamused
Staff Writer | Friday August 2, 2019 13:00
In a supporting affidavit filed in court, Tembo argued that contrary to what DPP was told, he was not deceased.
“I am alive and in good health. I wonder why the DPP is declaring me dead when I am alive,” Tembo said.
The testimony emerged in a matter in which Kgosi’s wife, Jennifer Seitshiro applied for variation that she continues occupying the family’s Phakalane home until State organs completed their investigations. The case was before Justice Tebogo Tau.
Last month, the DPP obtained a court order to restrain several immovable properties, motor vehicles, livestock and monies belong to Kgosi. He is presently undergoing medical treatment in Malaysia.
Furthermore, Tembo said it was clear that the DPP was dragging his name and that of his company, LT and Associates, in the mud without giving him the opportunity to present his side of the story.
He explained that his company was still in existence and it has presence in Botswana.
“I would have expected the DPP to approach me before making far reaching allegations against me and the company. They did not. I aver that sometime in 2006, my company was engaged by Mr Isaac Kgosi to provide Project Management Services for the construction of the house at Lot 61299 Phakalane.”
He added that he was advised that Kgosi and his wife had obtained a loan from Barclays Bank amounting to P953, 846.26. Kgosi informed him that he was personally financing the initial stages of the project by an amount of P278, 000 as the loan amount was not yet paid out. He was also informed that Kgosi and his wife were going out of the country for a period of one year for training and they made some arrangements with respect to the construction of the house.
When Kgosi came back from his studies, a reconciliation of materials used and payment made to the subcontractor was carried between LT and Associates and Kgosi.
“The reconciliation showed that amount spent for work done at the time was about P400, 000 and LT and Associates was owed about P478, 000.00,” Tembo said.
He said at the time his company had used some of the money for other expenses and could not repay the amount of P478, 000 at once.
“Mr Kgosi then requested that funds be returned with interest if not paid in full because the family the needed money to finish the house and as they were already paying back the mortgage. He was so serious about the demand as he even threatened me with litigation,” said Tembo
He also pointed out that his company started repaying back the owed amount and these payments were made by cheque with interest over a period of two to three years.
“These payments were sometimes made directly to Mr [Nsingo] Jere as part of his labour costs or given to Mr Jere for onward transmission to client since he was still working with them. The amount paid back was P525, 000 with interest.
I wish to point out that I had no further dealings with Mr Kgosi after my project management contract was terminated when he came back from UK except to continue paying back his money. More profoundly, I have never had any business dealings with DIS. I challenge the DPP to produce any evidence to the contrary,” he concluded.