Cansa CEO's golf 'on the house'

2005-09-21 22:22

Pieter du Toit

Johannesburg - Besides a salary of nearly R1m a year paid to the executive officer of the Cancer Association of South Africa, the organisation also paid for her golf lessons and membership fees at the exclusive Killarney Golf Course in Johannesburg.

"Niamaat Gamildien, the executive officer, attended only one lesson," claimed Marc Stiglingh, regional manager for Gauteng, after Cansa's annual meeting in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Cansa and Gamildien came under fire on Wednesday after alleged mis-application and under-application of government money as well as funds that were raised, and Gamildien's apparent autocratic management style had come to light.

Philip Gohl, also a Gauteng regional manager, said questions had been asked for some time about what had happened to millions of rands meant for home care and cancer research.

Accuracy of statements queried

Internal investigations already have been launched into what happened to R17m donated by the National Lottery Fund, as well as R2m donated by the department of social development.

Regional managers also questioned the accuracy of Cansa's financial statements and had planned to ask for the statements not to be accepted during the meeting.

Cansa spokesperson Martha Molete insisted that the financial statements were approved, but Stighlingh denied this.

"A vote about the statements was on the agenda, but it was removed during the meeting. The statements were not approved by the board and was not discussed."

Can serve on the board

The board, however, accepted an amendment to Cansa's memorandum of association, which determined that Gamildien, her financial chief Wilhelm de Wet and another senior member of management, Joel Perry, could serve on the board.

Gohl said this was contrary to the Fund-raising Act that stipulated that people in managerial positions were not allowed to serve on the board of a non-profitable business.

Stiglingh said that what the amendment meant, in effect, was that the board was cut down to nine members and that the three management members, along with a number of executive and non-executive directors, basically ruled Cansa.

Cansa denied all allegations of financial irregularities and said they had an unwavering trust in Gamildien.

- Beeld