The fight between President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s sisters and his nephew over the company that was awarded a half billion Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) controversial tender is heating up and is far from over.
The High Court is expected to be the next battleground for one of the high-profile cases involving multi-million Pula tenders issued by state owned entities as neither side is willing to backdown.
Masisi’s nephew, Joseph Pilane has unleashed his mettle by responding sharply to the Chinese contractor Huashi Li who was allegedly in were complicit in an elaborate plan with his aunts, Boitumelo Phadi Mmutle and Ketshidile Ntholo Hlanze to elbow him out of the company that won the Goodhope water tender worth more than P500 million.
In Pilane’s papers before the High Court, his lawyers MK Moesi & Co. indicated that he did not buy shares from anyone but was, through Li, offered 40 shares by G&M Building Services.
Pilane also responded to his aunties’ demands that he should place before the court a letter that he said he had signed under duress to resign from &M Building Services to pave way for them.
“The Plaintiff (Pilane) attended to the Fourth Defendant’s office (Li) housed in Precon Construction premises at Phakalane where he was made to sign for 40 shares in First defendant (G&M Building Services by fourth defendant (Li) after which he was issued with a share certificate to that effect.”
Pilane also annexed a copy of his share certificate as requested by Mmutle and Hlanze.
Masisi’s sisters had also demanded to know; “Where and when did the Fourth Defendant (Li)
and the Plaintiff (Pilane) allegedly reach this agreement?” and if “Was the alleged agreement in writing? If so, a copy of the agreement is hereby requested.”
Replying, Pilane indicated that the agreement between him and G&M Building Services, represented by Li, was concluded at the Precon Construction headquarters in Phakalane sometime in September 2020.
The agreement was verbal, he said.
Pilane said the terms of the said agreement included that he (Pilane) would be made a shareholder because of his knowledge in tendering process, Pilane would investigate and request debriefing on all tenders lost by the joint venture of Precon/Tianyuan (companies owned by Li)/&M Building Services and identify reasons for losing as such.
Mmutle and Hlanze also sought to establish from Pilane; “How many bids did the Plaintiff (Pilane) subsequently prepare on behalf of the First Defendant (G&M Buildings Services) in terms of the alleged agreement?”
Replying, Pilane stated that he prepared, on behalf of G&M Building Services, the following bids;
-Gamononyane-Molepolole National South Carrier (NSC) for Precon-Tianyuan and G&M.
-Construction of Goodhope Sub-District Water Supply Scheme Phase 2 Contract 2 for Precon Construction/G&M. Construction of Goodhope Sub District Water Supply Scheme Phase 2.2 Contract for Tianyuan Construction/G&M Joint Venture.
-Contract 3B: Lepoloke, Gubajango, Semolale and Mabolwe Water Supply Scheme for G&M.
Pilane had also alleged that during one of the meetings held in Phakalane that was attended by Li, Mmutle and Hlanze, he was presented with a draft letter for him to sign by Li intended for him to resign as a director and relinquish his shareholding in G&M Buildings Services.
In their court papers, Pilane’s aunties had demanded to know if this letter was “ever delivered to the Fourth Defendant (Li)…?”
If so, they also sought to know; “How was this alleged letter delivered to the Fourth Defendant? Proof of such delivery is requested. Was the letter also ever delivered to Ms Phadi Masisi Mmutle? If so, the manner of service and proof of such delivery are hereby requested.” In his latest response, Pilane said; “The letter was handed to Li by Pilane in person at the Precon’s headquarters at Phakalane.”
Pilane also indicated that the letter was also delivered to Ms Phadi.
