Sara Ngenohani Damases, who is accused together with prominent Windhoek lawyer Dirk Conradie of attempting to bribe advertising company DV8 Saatchi and Saatchi owners started her testimony in her defence yesterday.
Conradie and Damaseb are accused of attempting to bribe Kim Fields and Mark Bongers with the lucrative MTC advertising contract, provided they took on Damases as a black economic empowerment (BEE) partner.
Damases, from the onset denied that she was sent by Conradie to DV8 to propose they take her on as a BEE partner for Conradie to sway the MTC Board to vote in favour of DV8 for the N$60 million contract. According to her, she was interested in becoming the BEE partner of DV8 after she realised they do not have a BEE component in their company, which was an integral requisite of the tender. She then approached them and they asked her to arrange a meeting with Conradie, who was the chairperson of MTC at that stage.
While Damases denied any intimate knowledge of the tender, she said that Bongers and Fields knew she was friends with Conradie and she told them the lack of BEE could be a problem.
That is when they requested a meeting with Conradie, she told Windhoek High Court Judge Thomas Masuku yesterday. She further said she then called Conradie and told them about the request for a meeting, and he agreed to meet them.
Subsequently, an appointment was made for 16h00 at his office. At Conradie’s office, introductions were made and Bongers and Fields confirmed they were the owners of DV8 and that they tendered for the contract, she narrated to the court.
Damases was adamant that the discussion was random and that no agenda was followed. She said the discussion then turned to the tender, and Bongers and Fields confirmed that they did not have any BEE representation. “I was looking for work as a BEE partner, as I was unemployed, and when Conradie proposed that they make me their BEE partner, I was interested,” Damases said.
She further said that it seemed at that moment that Fields and Bongers were interested in the proposal and said they would think about it. She said they were the ones who asked what can be done since they do not have BEE representation, and that was when Conradie proposed the idea of her being taken on as their BEE partner.
According to Damases, Conradie told them, “Just look around at where you are.” She further said that Fields and Bongers told Conradie that it is a brilliant idea and they will definitely think about it.
According to her, Fields then called her the next night and was sceptical about the whole issue. She said Fields said that she – Damases – will get everything, while they—Fields and Bongers – do not have a guarantee that they will get the tender.
She is currently facing cross-examination from State Advocate Ed Marondedze.
Conradie and Damases face three counts of contravening the Anti-Corruption Act for allegedly attempting to bribe Bongers and his wife and business partner Fields with the massive advertising contract from MTC if they took Damases on board as a BEE partner.
Conradie is represented by South African Senior Advocate Vas Soni, instructed by Advocate Slysken Makando and Vetu Uanivi is on record for Damases.
Conradie and Damases are free on bail.