Blaauw protests his innocence

THE man at the centre of many dealings in the controversial High Court inquiry into the Social Security Commission’s (SSC) N$30 million investment yesterday set out to wash his hands of receiving any money or that he said former President Sam Nujoma had shares in Avid Investment Corporation.

Ralph Blaauw, acting Secretary General of the National Youth Council (NYC), called a media briefing in Windhoek where he denied ever telling suspended SSC manager Avril Green that Swapo President Sam Nujoma was a shareholder in Avid, or that he used Nujoma’s name to get a deal for the company. Green told the High Court this week that Blaauw had visited him, introduced himself as a Member of Parliament and told him that he had been sent by “a higher authority” to introduce Avid Investment Corporation (Pty) Ltd to the SSC.The suspended manager also said Blaauw had told him that 80 per cent of the shares in Avid belonged to the Swapo Party Youth League and that Nujoma had a share in the company but that it would not be disclosed anywhere.Blaauw said he “never ever used his (Nujoma’s) name to get any business deal”.”His (Green’s) second affidavit is a total U-turn.First he claimed (Swapo Youth League Secretary Paulus) Kapia bullied him.Now he sings a different song.Mr Green must come public and tell why he came up with a second affidavit.Green must say which politicians he met prior to issuing the second affidavit,” Blaauw charged.The Youth League member claimed that Green was “coached” into changing his affidavit by some Swapo politicians who had agendas against Nujoma.He claimed he had evidence on who Green had met and would expose them at Swapo party level.Blaauw said he knew Green from Walvis Bay and met him by chance when he visited the SSC offices to check on his company’s contributions.”He invited me for a cup of tea and while we were chatting generally about farms and so on, he took out a document and asked me whether the Blaauw on it was my wife.I confirmed that she is my wife and he remarked that it was a very solid document,” he said.According to him, that was where it ended.Blaauw described his conversation with Green about Avid as “very short” and added that there was “nothing about Nujoma, or please give them (Avid) the money”.”People must stop telling these lies,” he charged, adding that Christofine Kandara, wife of Lazarus Kandara, the alleged kingpin behind the establishment of Avid, had lied under oath when she told the court that she had given him N$40 000.Kandara told the court that she had given Blaauw N$80 000, of which he was supposed to take half and give the other half to Kapia.”It’s not true.I don’t know about that.I have been to her house sometime last year but I don’t know her well.I know her just from sight and I see she has changed quite a lot,” he said.He said he knew her husband from previous dealings in the fishing industry.Blaauw said Lazarus Kandara had approached his wife (Sharon Blaauw) to serve as a director on Avid and that she brought home a document that they both studied.Once they were happy with its content, Blaauw said, he took it to Kandara.The two had further discussions and Kandara revealed that he was looking for more investors.Blaauw offered to get Kapia on board and introduced the two men.Once Kapia signed up, he expressed interest in acquiring shares for the Swapo Youth League, but Blaauw said the five per cent share deal never went through.He said they became involved in Avid because he was an avid promoter of black economic empowerment.Blaauw maintained he was innocent and claimed that anyone who had stolen must be brought to book.In his affidavit this week, Green explained that his initial affidavit did not provide a detailed exposition as to how the Avid investment originated.”Due to the turn of events in the inquiry into the whereabouts of the N$30 million invested with Avid, I have been advised that it may be of assistance to the Honourable Court if I provide the additional information as set out in this affidavit.I remain available to assist the Honourable Court at its discretion,” Green said.Green told the High Court this week that Blaauw had visited him, introduced himself as a Member of Parliament and told him that he had been sent by “a higher authority” to introduce Avid Investment Corporation (Pty) Ltd to the SSC.The suspended manager also said Blaauw had told him that 80 per cent of the shares in Avid belonged to the Swapo Party Youth League and that Nujoma had a share in the company but that it would not be disclosed anywhere.Blaauw said he “never ever used his (Nujoma’s) name to get any business deal”.”His (Green’s) second affidavit is a total U-turn.First he claimed (Swapo Youth League Secretary Paulus) Kapia bullied him.Now he sings a different song.Mr Green must come public and tell why he came up with a second affidavit.Green must say which politicians he met prior to issuing the second affidavit,” Blaauw charged.The Youth League member claimed that Green was “coached” into changing his affidavit by some Swapo politicians who had agendas against Nujoma.He claimed he had evidence on who Green had met and would expose them at Swapo party level.Blaauw said he knew Green from Walvis Bay and met him by chance when he visited the SSC offices to check on his company’s contributions.”He invited me for a cup of tea and while we were chatting generally about farms and so on, he took out a document and asked me whether the Blaauw on it was my wife.I confirmed that she is my wife and he remarked that it was a very solid document,” he said.According to him, that was where it ended.Blaauw described his conversation with Green about Avid as “very short” and added that there was “nothing about Nujoma, or please give them (Avid) the money”.”People must stop telling these lies,” he charged, adding that Christofine Kandara, wife of Lazarus Kandara, the alleged kingpin behind the establishment of Avid, had lied under oath when she told the court that she had given him N$40 000.Kandara told the court that she had given Blaauw N$80 000, of which he was supposed to take half and give the other half to Kapia.”It’s not true.I don’t know about that.I have been to her house sometime last year but I don’t know her well.I know her just from sight and I see she has changed quite a lot,” he said.He said he knew her husband from previous dealings in the fishing industry.Blaauw said Lazarus Kandara had approached his wife (Sharon Blaauw) to serve as a director on Avid and that she brought home a document that they both studied.Once they were happy with its content, Blaauw said, he took it to Kandara.The two had further discussions and Kandara revealed that he was looking for more investors.Blaauw offered to get Kapia on board and introduced the two men.Once Kapia signed up, he expressed interest in acquiring shares for the Swapo Youth League, but Blaauw said the five per cent share deal never went through.He said they became involved in Avid because he was an avid promoter of black economic empowerment.Blaauw maintained he was innocent and claimed that anyone who had stolen must be brought to book.In his affidavit this week, Green explained that his initial affidavit did not provide a detailed exposition as to how the Avid investment originated.”Due to the turn of events in the inquiry into the whereabouts of the N$30 million invested with Avid, I have been advised that it may be of assistance to the Honourable Court if I provide the additional information as set out in this affidavit.I remain available to assist the Honourable Court at its discretion,” Green said.