He said they indicated that they were looking for SMME jobs and had agreed with the client that they would be offered construction work such as painting and fitting ceilings.
“They said they would also be given the community liaison officer position. They said the client requested that the councillor (me) confirm whether I knew them. I signed the letter saying I knew the people,” he said.
He added that he knew they were from his ward and didn’t object to the construction company doing business with them or giving them jobs.
He said he didn’t know about the R1,000, which was new to him, and he wrote only that the men were from his ward.
“What I know is that they came to me, and I wrote the letter. I stamped it, I signed and I gave it to them. What happened on Monday and other days, I don’t know but I know they came to me and wanted a letter confirming they were from my ward 124 — and that is what was needed by the client,” he said.
Mnyameni said there was no legitimate business forum in his ward but the men allegedly identified themselves as such.
“There is no legit business forum in ward 124. They came to me not as a business forum, but as an SMME, hence in the letter I didn’t say that it was a business forum. I acknowledged only that I knew them, and they were from my ward,” he said.