DAVE VAN NIEKERK SPEAKS OUT AFTER FORENSIC AUDIT CLEARS HIS NAME IN ECSPONENT SAGA
In a recent development surrounding the Ecsponent Eswatini scandal, renowned businessman Dave Van Niekerk has spoken out, vehemently rejecting allegations of his involvement in the financial misconduct associated with the company.
A forensic audit conducted by Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc. (CDH) has conclusively cleared Van Niekerk of any wrongdoing. The Central Bank of Eswatini commissioned report did not find Van Niekerk to have been on the wrong side.
"The latest forensic audit by CDH has delivered a definitive verdict – I am completely exonerated of any involvement," Van Niekerk declared in a statement. He emphasized that ongoing legal battles, including attempts to interdict publications, have consistently seen the courts dismiss claims against him as baseless and unsupported by evidence.
Recent reports have linked Van Niekerk to the mismanagement of funds raised under a P500 million medium-term note program by FirstCred Limited (formerly GetBucks). Allegations suggest that these funds were improperly managed and redirected to Mauritius and South Africa. However, Van Niekerk categorically denied any connection to these actions.
"I want to categorically state that I was not involved in the management or misuse of these funds," he stated, underscoring that neither the forensic audit nor the Central Bank's investigation found evidence of his involvement.
Van Niekerk further distanced himself from FirstCred, asserting that he has had no operational role or oversight in the company's financial decisions since its rebranding from GetBucks. Instead, he pointed fingers at FirstCred's leadership, highlighting the actions of George Manyere and Tim Nui as the true cause of the financial turmoil.
"Ecsponent’s efforts to vilify me are a desperate attempt to obscure the truth and evade accountability," Van Niekerk said in a statement sent to The Bridge, calling for scrutiny of Manyere and Nui’s alleged mismanagement and conflict of interest in the collapse of MyBucks.
He also reiterated his previous warnings about Ecsponent’s attempts to deflect blame. "Over a year ago, I publicly stated that Ecsponent and its directors were seeking a scapegoat for their financial failures. The current situation confirms the accuracy of my earlier statements," he remarked.
Van Niekerk characterized recent sensationalist reports alleging billions of rands lost in questionable transactions as part of a broader campaign to construct a false narrative against him.
As the saga unfolds, Van Niekerk is urging stakeholders to focus on what he refers to as being the genuine culprits and to base their judgments on verified facts. "It is time to end this charade and focus on the real perpetrators who have betrayed investors and abused their positions of power," he asserted.
His message is clear: justice must be served, and those truly responsible must be held accountable.