Brits- Benjy Maponya has spoken out about the breakdown of a mining partnership with North West businessman Solly Madibela, popularly known as My Sol, alleging that the fallout cost him his income and his Hartbeespoort home.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Maponya described a friendship that developed into a business relationship before ending in disagreements over payments. He is now appealing for assistance to pursue the matter and says he fears for his family’s safety.
“Before you tell people about my struggle, tell them our story,” Maponya wrote.
Maponya, who identifies himself as the founder of N4 Cluster, says the partnership began after he was appointed alongside VJ Coal for an opencast mining operation at Buffels West. According to him, he was later told that VJ Coal had been liquidated and that he needed a technical partner.
He says he turned to Madibela because of their close friendship.
“We used to share a 2kg chicken portion. I used to borrow him my car. We were like brothers,” he said.
The two companies, B. Maponya Holdings and MySol Holdings & Logistics, entered into a joint venture. An agreement supplied with Maponya’s statement provides for his company to receive R8 per ton of material screened at the operation.
Maponya alleges that several months into the partnership, he noticed discrepancies in payments. He says attempts to question them led to arguments and, eventually, an end to his payments.
According to Maponya, his absence from the site was raised as a reason. He says Madibela was responsible for daily site operations, while his own payments were linked to the amount of material screened.
He further alleges that the disagreement extended into his personal life. Maponya claims he was told to leave his wife, move from Hartbeespoort back to Majakaneng, stop organising community activities and leave Facebook.
He alleges that he was promised continued payments if he left his wife, but refused.
“I decided to leave it and start a new life with my wife — the woman I chose over money,” he said.
Maponya says he was subsequently informed that the tender would be re-advertised and alleges that the opportunity ultimately went to Madibela’s company. He says he was refused access to the premises when he sought answers.
The loss of income, he says, had a significant effect on his family. Maponya says he had purchased a house in Hartbeespoort for R2.1 million but fell behind on payments for more than nine months. He eventually agreed with the owner to leave the property.
He says he and his wife then arranged to build a three-room home at her family’s property as they worked to start afresh.
Maponya says he had remained silent about the dispute and previously declined interview approaches from two major South African broadcasters. He says comments about his struggles have now prompted him to give his account publicly.
His statement also raises concerns about his safety. He alleges that people posing as police officers visited his home about three years ago after he previously spoke out about the matter.
Maponya is asking those who had offered funding and personal security assistance to contact him. He says he is also willing to speak to broadcasters about his experience.
The allegations reflect Maponya’s account and have not been independently verified. No response from Madibela, MySol Holdings & Logistics or Samancor was included in the information provided to AfriMerits Live.
AfriMerits Live is following the story closely.
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