Johannesburg - Arthur Mafokate has received an overwhelming torrent of criticism on social media after he attempted to set the record straight and share his side of the story following allegations of misuse of National Lotteries Commission (NLC) funds that surfaced last week.
This came a few days after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), together with the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), obtained a preservation order from the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, to confiscate the properties. Thy include three luxury properties, a plot, and a portion of a farm that was reportedly linked to the syphoning of lottery grants meant for development projects.
It was revealed that Mafokate’s expensive Midrand guest house was also attached.
According to “City Press”, Mafokate received funding to the tune of R9.5 million in 2014 through the SA Arts and Development Association (Saada) to do work in destitute communities and uplift young and up-and-coming talent in the arts.
In a YouTube interview hosted by publicist and journalist Danny Mdluli, the label owner left many people hanging on a string with unanswered questions after failing dismally to salvage the situation and to explain the allegations made against him.
He was labelled "an actor" with crocodile tears, while other people said he must account for his actions.
Mafokate was expected to set the record straight, but he could not explain the allegations that he reportedly spent R6 million to buy a guest house in Midrand with funds paid to his non-profit organisation, the Saada, by the NLC for projects meant for the youth.
With all the claims made against him by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) asset forfeiture unit, he said that the law must take its course.
"Can we allow them to do their process fairly as stipulated in their rules and principles and allow them to go through this process? That is one of the reasons I keep quiet,“ he said.
"I had this case for three years. I never said anything. I kept quiet for three years. I respect the law; I am a law-abiding citizen, and I will continue doing that," said Mafokate.
Explaining how the funding process takes place, he said, "You get the first 50% and go and implement. Remember, I am not just a board member of Saada."
Mafokate was also asked about the challenges of acquiring funding: "The sad thing about what you have just asked is that we go toyi-toyi as organisations and ask for these monies, and then some of us go against certain things that we agreed to.
“They start bad-mouthing this one and say they stole money. Not realising that we are creating one of the challenges," he said.
The Star