Ikhwezi Centre in trouble
2010-08-26
Anne Kruger
A FORENSIC investigation into the Ikhwezi Community Centre in Mbekweni, at the request of the German funders of the centre, has been blocked by the chairman for the past six months. As a result, the Lutheran Church in Germany, which has been one of the main sponsors of the centre, has halted its assistance to the centre. The centre, which aims to create work in the community with handicrafts, is now in dire financial straits and could soon be forced into bankruptcy. A warrant of execution has been served on the centre by the sheriff of the court, after a former employee, who won an application for unfair dismissal at the CCMA, was not paid the money owed to him. The ecumenical development partnership with Ikhwezi started in 1987 under the chairmanship of the late Rev Abe Maart. The partnership includes mutual visits between Paarl and Rendsburg (Germany). “Last year we invited three representatives of Ikhwezi and transferred the money needed for the flights,” says Henning Halver, spokesperson for the sponsors of the centre in Rensburg. “Then in September only two of the representatives arrived, but we got information that the manager had flown to Germany at our cost, without attending the meeting. “This fact caused some queries and we are in the process of discussing this with the Ikhwezi Trust (under chairmanship of Father Peter James).” The manager of the centre, Titus Hendricks (a former town councillor), has admitted visiting Germany last year, without attending the report-back meeting with the sponsors to discuss the finances of the centre. Since then, the German funding of the centre has been halted, pending a complete report, including an audited financial report. “In fact, as German funders of Ikhwezi we have requested and paid for a complete forensic audit,” says Halver. Ikhwezi chairman, Rev Peter James of the Baptist Congregation, has refused to approve a forensic report on the centre’s finances, although other trustees support the audit, and funding has already been paid to an auditing company. Allegations of abuse of donor funding for private expenses like school fees and car repairs, have been made. When approached on this matter, an angry Rev James denied that a forensic report was required. “Why must we have a forensic audit if there is nothing wrong?” he asked. Said Halver, “We hope that our frienship towards the original idea of Ikhwezi (morning star) serving the people will be taken up and truly followed soon.”
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