A Uitenhage dominee is being probed for allegedly dipping into the coffers of a Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) company to pay for holidays, cellphones and computers and to boost his pension fund.
The allegations against Aubrey Gouws, 62, who is the dominee of the DRC Moedergemeente in Uitenhage, have been made by Clarence Ratangee, 76, a former finance manager and elder of the church.
Gouws has described the accusations as unsubstantiated and made by a disgruntled ex-employee forced into retirement by sickness.
Ratangee, who said he started as the finance manager in 2005 and resigned in 2017, claims Gouws misappropriated at least R4m while he was in charge of the church’s finances.
But while Ratangee reported the allegations to the DRC, Gouws has started an investigation of his own into his former finance manager.
De Mist DRC dominee Christo Stomke, who also oversees the five churches in Uitenhage, confirmed an investigation was under way regarding Ratangee’s allegations – which the church viewed in a serious light.
“We have perused the complaints and forwarded them to the disciplinary committee,” he said. “This is now in the hands of this committee and we will have to wait for their findings.”
Speaking to Weekend Post, Ratangee admitted to being complicit in the alleged fraud but denied having ever benefited financially from it.
“I am involved because I allowed it to happen. If I must go to jail I will serve my time.”
Ratangee said he had decided to speak out as cancer had spread in his body and he was no longer receiving treatment.
“Once this is over, then I can die in peace. The truth will set me free,” he said.
In an e-mailed statement, Gouws said the allegations were made by a disgruntled former employee who had made a lot of unsubstantiated claims and accusations.
He said he was conducting an investigation which included an audit into alleged financial irregularities and mismanagement by Ratangee.
“Because of this I am not at liberty to comment at this moment in time because it is sub judice,” he stated.
“This slow process is also frustrating a bitter and dying old man.”
Some of the allegations, according to e-mails and letters between Ratangee and the church’s disciplinary committee tasked to investigate 10 claims against Gouws, include:
● Using the church’s money for holidays, totalling R60,000 a year;
● Transferring various amounts into different bank accounts in his name, including a credit card and investment account, ranging from R50,000 to R80,000 a month;
● Boosting his pension fund with R15,000 at first and then later up to R25,000;
● The purchase of equipment such as computers and cellphones worth about R80,000;
● Receiving irregular payments for gardening, repair work, cleaning and the painting of a block of flats owned by the church’s company.
Stomke said he hoped the disciplinary committee would work quickly.
He said there were also unfounded allegations that the church was protecting Gouws.
“That is not so. We can’t do anything until the committee gives us a decision,” he said.
Ratangee first notified the DRC in November 2017.
A committee was formed in March 2018 but it could not meet after the chair fell ill, and then resigned in September due to his health.
‘I had to do it otherwise he would have fired me. I did it in the name of God and the church’
A new committee was then established which is chaired by Port Elizabeth’s DRC Sonheuwels dominee, Deon van Staden, along with Uitenhage lawyer Chris Lessing acting as its scribe.
Lessing said there had been delays in the investigation as Gouws had failed to supply the disciplinary committee with crucial documents such as financial records and church minutes.
“Once we get that information it will be easier to establish if there is a bona fide case and perhaps then refer it for further action,” he said.
He said the initial request for documents was made on May 31 2018.
“We asked for access to see if there is any truth to this. If there is an agreement in place between Gouws and the church [for the payments] then there is no case.”
He said the forensic investigation being carried out by Gouws would have no bearing on their probe.
“We would need to see all the documents ourselves.”
A final letter of demand for the documents was sent to Gouws by Lessing this week.
“We place on record that the final opportunity to present the requested information is before or on February 21 2019 to allow us to investigate.
“If this is not done by the specified date we will be compelled to enforce the PAIA [Promotion of Access to Information Act],” Lessing wrote.
Van Staden confirmed the disciplinary committee was still waiting for documentation from Gouws but hoped this would be supplied soon.
“We have been a little slow on this for various reasons but this will be finalised soon.”
Van Staden said there were allegations made by both Gouws and Ratangee.
“This is very tricky but we are ready to tackle this now.”
Ratangee said the alleged fraud was made possible after the church started a business, Bold Moves 160, in 2007, which was tasked with managing one of the church’s properties.
This is a block of flats on the corner of Church and Caledon streets in Uitenhage.
He said he first became aware of the illegal payments in 2017 when Gouws allegedly informed him that he would be increasing his pension fund from R15,000 to R25,000.
“I questioned him about this but he replied that the church would never find out. I had to do it otherwise he would have fired me. I did it in the name of God and the church.”
He then started analysing the church and company’s bank statements, where he noticed further irregularities.
Ratangee was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1995 but three years ago doctors told him it had spread to his bones.
“It has been weighing heavily on my heart,” he said. “This has nothing to do with money.”
In his statement, Gouws wrote that an article at this time would be premature.
“It will [also] rely on a one-sided and untested version of the whole truth because of a man forced into retirement by sickness and by his family and being unable to survive without an income which he blames on everybody else but himself.
“I reserve all my rights should your article in any way contain defamatory or slanderous remarks and comments about me and or the DRC Church Uitenhage.”