Former EP Rugby head Cheeky Watson allegedly instructed the union’s chief accounting officer at the time to make a R2.9m payment to Access Management, which was then paid to Zeranza 299 CC.
Clinton Hardley, a former EP Rugby chief accountant, was testifying in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday.
The R2.9m payment was money meant for the Bay’s embattled Integrated Public Transport System, according to the state.
Hardley told the court that in February 2013 he was summoned to Watson’s office where he was allegedly told to schedule a payment to a supplier not on the database of Access Management.
Watson told him further details would come later, according to Hardley.
“He then called me to his office for the second time.
“He handed me a piece of paper containing the amount [R2.9m] and that the description on the payment should be event hosting or consultation,” he said. However, Hardley said Access Management official Marianna van Rooyen later ordered him to change the wording of the description to “profit sharing SA v New Zealand Rugby Sevens”.
Advocate François van Zyl SC, on behalf of Watson, took a swipe at Hardley for failing to ask Watson about the changes.
“Did you inform Watson when this description was changed from event consulting to profit sharing?
“Why didn’t you ask questions?”
Hardley responded that he did not.
The case continues.