Iuze Mukube
Prominent lawyer Dirk Conradie has been convicted of corruption in a marathon litigation involving a N$60 million tender at the telecommunications giant, MTC.
The matter centred on allegations of corruption and conspiracy to commit corruption levelled against Conradie (64) and his co-accused, Sara Damases (59).
Conradie and Damases faced three counts of contravening the Anti-Corruption Act for allegedly attempting to bribe Mark Bongers and his wife and business partner Kim Fields with a massive advertising contract from MTC, where Conradie was the board chairman.
Conradie allegedly promised them the MTC advertising contract if they took Damases on board as a black economic empowerment (BEE) partner. Windhoek High Court Judge Thomas Masuku yesterday stated that, in his view, Conradie is the one who had information about the MTC tender outcomes.
He further said that the evidence on a prima facie basis is clear that the accused conspired to commit an offence under the Anti-Corruption Act. The two conspired and set up a meeting in which they attempted to persuade BW1 and BW2 to accept Damases as part of the BEE component of DV8.
“In view of the foregoing, I want to consider the opinion that the State has proved the guilt of the accused persons in relation to this count beyond a reasonable doubt,” said the judge.
On the second count that is solely alleged against Conradie of corruptly using an office or position for gratification, he found that the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that MTC is a public body.
Therefore, the judge acquitted and discharged the charge against Conradie.
For the last count, he found both guilty of attempting or conspiring to contravene sections 42 and 43 of the Anti-Corruption Act.
Section 42 deals with bribery or giving assistance in relation to contracts. In this regard, he found that Conradie sought to persuade board members not to award the contract in terms of the recommendation but to redirect the award in the way of DV8, whom he claimed during the meeting he did not know.
The matter was postponed to 26 February 2026. Conradie is represented by Senior Counsel Vas Soni, instructed by Slysken Makando and Damases by Vetu Uanivi.
The State is represented by Ed Marondedze.
Photo: Heather Erdmann