Motau, who was appointed in the position of HOD in 2013, today told the state prosecutor, Johan de Nysschen, that he never met Siemens or Bakili at any stage. 

He today, in a trial sitting in Bloemfontein, gave a detailed response to allegations that he is amongst those that Bakili bribed to have CityMed’s hospital bed licence amended to allow for more beds. De Nysschen today handed over cell phone data evidence marked exhibition U and U1 and this document contains WhatsApp text messages between Bakili and Siemens implicating persons depicted as Motau, and former senior legal advisor from the department, Justice Vinger, amongst others. 

Meanwhile, speaking to OFM News outside the court, Motau says the allegations were an insult and it is disappointing that he has been linked with bribery allegations.

In a file retrieved from Siemens documents after his death, Bakili allegedly indicated to him that Motau is among those he bribed for the licence issuing process. Motau says he feels vindicated by the process today and indicates that even the defence did not stand up to pose a single question against him as the person who is alleged to have received a bribe from Siemens, through Bakili.  

Meanwhile, in his testimony today, Motau did indicate that the application of CityMed to have its hospital license amended for more beds did face some delay over the ownership of the company between 2017 and 2018. Motau confirmed during his testimony that the department’s seven-member hospital licensing committee had raised some concerns over the hospital’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) compliance. According to Motau, this delayed the finalisation of the day hospital’s application somewhat. 

Following Siemens’ death, it has been revealed during the trial that well-known Bloemfontein businessman, Freddy Kenny, bought the deceased’s shares and became a shareholder and Managing Director at the day hospital. Not too long after this, CityMed’s application was finalised. 

The application forms the background of the state’s case and the strained relationship between Siemens and accused number one, Stanley Bakili. It’s alleged Siemens paid bribes to several government officials through Bakili. Bakili joins Molebatsi Mogoera, Kagiso Chabane, Mojalefa Jali Molusi, Moeketsi Lesia, Clive Tshivenga Karabo Tau, and Sizwe Mpati in the dock. 

They are between the ages of 29 and 56 and include three police officers, a disbarred advocate, an accused in separate double murder cases, and a military man. 

Judge Pitso Molitsoane today adjourned the matter until tomorrow, Wednesday 20 November, where the South African Police Services (SAPS) member Captain Cathrine Oosthuizen, is expected to give a further financial analysis testimony. Earlier during the bail application by Bakili in November 2018, Oosthuizen labelled him as a flight risk and told Magistrate, Marlene Marais, that if he was to be released on bail he would evade his trial. Oosthuizen said after Bakili was arrested in the Eastern Cape he was brought back to Bloemfontein.

OFM News