WHY WAS THE DATE FOR THE TRADE FAIR MOVED FROM AUGUST, THEN TO SEPTEMBER, LATER TO OCTOBER AND THEN TO NOVEMBER?Where the department had to be involved, the internal stakeholders had to be notified and consulted that made the dates of August and September not suitable. The October date would have clashed with the National Investment Conference.
WILL ANOTHER PROJECT MANAGER BE SOUGHT TO ORGANISE THE TRADE FAIR IN THE FUTURE? No.
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE DISPUTE WITH OPTIREL8? The organising partners had agreed that the event can only proceed if 75% of the projected number of investors have confirmed attendance and payments received. No confirmations were forthcoming. There was a dispute about ownership of the concept.
WAS OPTIREL8 PAID FOR THEIR MANAGEMENT FEES AND CONCEPT DOCUMENT? No, the department did not pay Optirel8 for management fees and the concept.
HOW MUCH MONEY WAS EXPECTED TO BE RAISED FROM THIS EVENT? It was dependant on the sponsorship and this would have been reflected in the costed and funding business plan.
WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE 60-40 PERCENT PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO AND WHAT WOULD THE PERCENT OF THE DEPARTMENT/NIEUWOUDTVILLE PROJECT BE USED FOR? It was the proposal by the organising partner. It was not envisaged that the department would receive any proceeds from the conference.
WOULD THE DIRECTORS BENEFIT FROM THE 40 PERCENT PROFIT SHARING ARRANGEMENT? No.
WERE THE SPONSORS APPROACHED FOR FUNDING BY THE DEPARTMENT? Yes, some companies were requested to sponsor and were directed to deposit the funds into the joint account between Optirel8 and Nieuwoudtville Rooibos.
WHY WAS THE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT DRAWN UP BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTED BY NIEUWOUDTVILLE ROIBOS (PTY) LTD AND OPTIREL8? The Final draft of the service level agreement was drawn up between the organising partner and Nieuwoudtville Rooibos.
WHY WERE TWO CONTRACTS/SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS DRAWN UP? There were no two contracts. The draft SLA that says Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development represented by Nieuwoudtville and Optirel8 was rejected by the department in a meeting where the organising partner was present and the final draft is as answered above.
WAS THE SIGNATURE OF THE DIRECTOR OF OPTIREL8 FORGED ON ONE OF THE CONTRACTS? No. The insinuation is rejected with the contempt it deserves.
DID 75 PRCENT OF THE SPONSORS CONFIRM ATTENDANCE AND RAISE THE NECESSARY FUNDS? No, the organising partner could not confirm how many delegates confirmed their attendance.
HOW MANY DELEGATES REGISTERED TO ATTEND? The organising partner could not confirm how many delegates have registered despite numerous requests.
DID THE MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM OR A SUITABLE REPRESENTATIVE, THE PREMIER AND MEC CONFIRM ATTENDANCE FOR THE EVENT? Various invitations were extended to various Ministers and MECs and some had confirmed.The intention to have the conference was communicated to the NC Executive Council.
WAS THE PROJECT ENDORSED BY CABINET? The intention to have the conference was communicated to the NC Executive Council.
IS NIEUWOUDTVILLE ROOIBOS (PTY) LTD A COMMUNITY BASED PROJECT? Questions relating to Nieuwoudtville rooibos must be directed to Nieuwoudtville Rooibos, however, please note that the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development is the sole shareholder of Nieuwoudtville rooibos (Pty) Ltd. and represented by the two officials as Directors on behalf of government and not in their own capacity.There is no financial gain for the two senior officials and this has been audited numerous times and the said officials are required to submit financial disclosures annually.
WHY ARE ITS PREMISES SITUATED AT THE DEPARTMENT’S OFFICES IF IT IS LISTED AS A PRIVATE COMPANY? No, the premises are not situated at the department.
HOW MUCH FUNDING IS GIVEN TO THE ROOIBOS PROJECT ANNUALLY BY THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS FROM THE LETSEMA GRANT FOR PROVERTY REDUCTION? The department does not fund operational costs of Nieuwoudtville Rooibos.
WHY WAS THE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT WITH OPTIREL8 CANCELLED LAST WEEK? Please refer to the Media Statement.
WHY DID THE DEPARTMENT SUDDENLY AGREE TO TERMINATE THE CANCELLATION TO ENABLE OPTIREL8 TO CONTINUE WITH THE EVENT ON FRIDAY? The department did not suddenly agree to terminate the cancellation, hence the media statement issued on Monday, 12 November 2018.
WHY DID THE CFO OPEN UP A PRIVATE FNB ACCOUNT WITH OPTIREL8? The joint FNB bank account is between Nieuwoudtville Rooibos and Optirel8 as organising partners to successfully hold the conference.
WHO HAS ACCESS TO THIS BANK ACCOUNT AND HOW MUCH MONEY WAS DEPOSITED INTO THE BANK ACCOUNT? Access to the bank account is between Nieuwoudtville Rooibos and Optirel8 and to our knowledge no funds have been deposited into the account.
HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN RAISED THROUGH SPONSORS FOR THE EVENT SO FAR? To the best of our knowledge, no sponsor or delegate could register in the provided website and therefore no money was deposited into the joint bank account, hence the cancellation.
IF THE TRADE FAIR IS NOT TAKING PLACE WILL THE DONATED MONEY BE REVERTED BACK TO THE SPONSORS? The organising partners had agreed that should the event not proceed all the money paid by sponsors would be returned.
HAS THE VENUE HIRE, CATERING, ACCOMMODATION AND TRANSPORT OF DELEGATES ETC. BEEN PAID FOR ALREADY? No.
HAS THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED LAWYERS LETTERS THREATENING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT? No, the only lawyer’s letter that the department received was the organising partner requesting negotiations on settlement to avoid taking the matter to the relevant authorities and institutions.
