By way of an introduction SKG Africa operates in the commercial property leasing sector focusing on public sector related tenants. As a business we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver unmatched property and leasing solutions for our clients. In doing so we have earned ourselves the reputation, proudly so, of being an honest and ethical industry player which delivers robust and competitive business solutions which have, and will, continue to disrupt industry norms and challenge our competitors.

SKG Africa forms part of the SKG Properties Group which operates out of East London. The group was founded by Jean Du Plessis, who having started out his career as a caravan salesman, bought his first building in the year 2000.

Through hard work, ethical business practices, dedication and commitment, the group currently owns one of the largest property holding portfolios in the country. We have achieved this objective by staying true to our course and we have, in doing so, where necessary, challenged both the departments with whom we do business as well as our competitors.

As our track record demonstrates we have in the past readily and capably dealt with and disposed of any legitimate and formal challenges that have come our way. We now, however, find ourselves having to deal with a new challenge in the form of a sustained and illegitimate campaign in which we are required to defend our reputations and our business against allegations which are easily made and which at their core remain untested and unproven. Despite the unproven and untested nature of these allegations the mere fact of their publication has now accorded and infused them with a degree of credibility which they do not deserve, and we are left with the burden of having to now disprove that which does not exist. This, it would seem to us, is the very reason as to why the allegations are now being aired in the media as opposed to, for example, in a court of law where they would of course have been easily disposed of.

When we were offered this opportunity by the Star to respond to the articles and allegations reported on by them, we made what for us was a very simple decision being, as always, to focus on certain key facts and in so doing to highlight the clear disconnect between the allegations being made and the true factual position.

The first issue that we would want to deal with relates to Nontutuzelo Mbiza and her involvement as a shareholder and director SKG Africa.

Based on the allegations made in the media, Mbiza is disingenuously and falsely characterised as being unqualified, lacking business acumen and being nothing more than a B-BBEE front for SKG Africa. In reality Mbiza is a qualified quantity surveyor and a competent businesswoman who has managed, owned and operated a number of businesses within the property sector since the year 2000. Furthermore, Mbiza has served on numerous boards within the built environment as well as real estate sector.

Du Plessis approached Mbiza to join SKG Africa in 2018 as an effective 51% shareholder and director to drive an opportunity to grow SKG Africa’s portfolio within the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI).

With Mbiza accepting this opportunity SKG Africa became, and possibly still is, the largest black woman owned property leasing business in the public sector within South Africa.

Clearly, these allegations which are made in relation to Mbiza do not accord with the objective facts.

Additionally, and insofar as the allegations of fronting are concerned this is not the first time that SKG Africa has had to deal with allegations of fronting. What has become clear to us is that our competitors in this male dominated industry are unable to compete fairly with a black woman owned business. This reality is supported by the fact that in 2019 SKG Africa was reported to the B-BBEE Commission by an anonymous complainant for investigation. SKG, Mbiza and Du Plessis cooperated fully with the investigation. After a thorough investigation, the complaint was determined to be without merit and the matter was closed by the Commission.

With reference to the allegations of criminal conduct and criminal investigations the facts are that despite these allegations SKG Africa, Mbiza and Du Plessis have not engaged in any criminal conduct, and we have not been called on to answer any charges or allegations.

In relation to the allegations of a corrupt and captured relationship with the DPWI the facts set out below demonstrate that these allegations are without merit -

SKG Africa has not been awarded a single tender by DPWI in Pretoria, Johannesburg or the Free State, even though its tenders, from a pricing and B-BBEE perspective, represented, demonstrably so, the best offers. A case in point being a tender for leasing of accommodation by the Department of Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs, which SKG Africa believes won and should have been awarded, but which tender was cancelled on 27 November 2024.

in the media reports it is alleged that SKG Africa is indebted to the DPWI in the amount of R 43 000 000.00 for certain unexplained overpayments. Further reconciliations exchanged with DPWI have factually demonstrated that these allegations are unfounded.

Whilst we take comfort from the reality that we have nothing to hide the trial by media which we have had to endure, has caused us to suffer significant damage from both a personal and business perspective and we would like to thank our stakeholders for standing by us in these difficult times. For those who have made the allegations against us you can expect to receive our court papers shortly.

In conclusion, we confirm that SKG Africa is, in light of the allegations and out of an abundance of caution, reviewing our current structure and will to the extent necessary implement any necessary recommendations to ensure that we remain compliant with all applicable legislation.

As a final note, and notwithstanding all the resistance, SKG Africa remains committed to playing its part in the transformation of the public property leasing sector and it will continue in its drive to ensure the inclusion of black female entrants in this industry.