THABISO Moroahae, the owner of Tholo Energy, allegedly used the illicit money from under-declaring fuel levies to fund his lavish lifestyle which included a fleet of expensive cars and several extra-marital affairs. Tumisang Thahanyane, the former executive of Tholo Energy, makes the revelations in an affidavit in which he also admits having benefited from the criminal activities in the company.
This content is for subscribers only. To subscribe, Click Here. Or Sign In
Thahanyane tells the court that he was Moroahae’s partner in the sleaze and was rewarded until his conscience kicked in and he wanted out.
He admits that they both had extramarital affairs that they funded with “savings” generated from under-declaring fuel levies.
Thahanyane says he fell out with Moroahae after he raised concerns about the under-declaration of levies and the manipulation of the company’s financial statements to hide the looting, cheat the authorities and mislead bankers.
He however says the fact that they shared a lover precipitated their fallout which saw Moroahae accuse him of stealing M40 million from the company.
The fraud and money laundering charges against Thahanyane have triggered a court battle that has birthed the affidavit that is now shredding Moroahae’s reputation and exposing the rot at Tholo Energy.
The affidavit paints Moroahae as a shareholder and chief executive who turned his company into a piggybank to fund his pleasures.
Thahanyane says Moroahae used the money generated from under-declaring fuel levies to buy seven cars worth M16.5 million.
They include a Mercedes G Wagon worth M5.5 million, a Jeep SRT (M3 million), a BMW X5M (M3.2 million), a Range Rover Sport (M1.8 million), a C63s AMG (M1.3 million), a VW Amarok (M900 000) and a Toyota Hilux (M800 000).
Thahanyane says Moroahae used the illicit gains from under-declaring levies to build his M12 million mansion in Lithabaneng.
But it is Thahanyane’s revelation of Moroahae’s marital affairs that had got tongues wagging.
“He has several extra-marital affairs and one relationship he used to describe to me as a life partnership,” Thahanyane tells the court.
Thahanyane says Moroahae had a relationship with one Palesa Nthama who worked at an industrial area in Maseru.
“She moved to South Africa with financial assistance from Thabiso (Moroahae)”.
Thahanyane says Moroahae built a house for Nthama in Mazenod’s Ha-Paki.
“In some cases, direct payments would be made to the suppliers of building materials. The money came from the under-declared levies.”
He claims that in South Africa Nthama stays in a house that has been bought by Tholo Energy CC, which is an entity registered in that country in which Moroahae is the sole member.
“Tholo has a house which was acquired using the funds of the company at 59 Royal Oak Estates, Morningside, Sandton, South Africa. Palesa (Nthama) has been staying on that property since 2020.”
Tholo Energy’s funds were used to buy Nthama a Jeep Cherokee and she also runs a paraffin business in Bloemfontein on Hamilton Street.
This is the only business that Tholo supplies with fuel in South Africa.
“The policy of Tholo is not to supply fuel dealers in South Africa. However, the business of Palesa (Nthama) has been treated as an exception with the result that Tholo was responsible for constructing and erecting a pump infrastructure in the form of fuel tanks and fuel dispensing equipment.”
“Tholo is responsible for maintaining such infrastructure.”
Thahanyane claims Moroahae confided in him that Nthama is his life partner.
“He used to tell me that they have agreed that she would not get married or have children.”
Thahanyane tells the court that Moroahae has another girlfriend in Katlehong who is a “daughter of the late Macaefa Billy”.
Thahanyane says Moroahae told him during their confidential discussions about their extra-marital affairs that he paid tuition fees for the woman at the Centre for Accounting Studies using cash from the under-declared fuel levies.
“He also confessed that he paid for the extension of her parents’ house.”
Moroahae allegedly bought this woman a BMW X2 whose name is not mentioned in court papers.
Thahanyane says Moroahae told him that he paid for the woman’s legal fees when she had disputes with her family.
“I confirmed that he paid his own legal representatives to represent them by taking cash after sales which came from the under-declared fuel levies.”
He said Moroahae’s other girlfriend is Lebohang Leponesa of Marabeng in Berea who works at a local bank as a credit controller.
“Thabiso (Moroahae) informed me that he financed the construction of her house and bought her a BMW vehicle. She was financed by the cash savings from the under-declared fuel levies.”
Thahanyane says he “knew about these payments and I kept quiet because of our good working relationships with” Moroahae.
Thahanyane said illegal savings from the tax evasion enabled Moroahae and his wife, who is a co-director, to lead a lavish lifestyle by buying expensive cars.
He also said the couple built a house with an estimated value of M12 million in Lithabaneng, Ha-Keiso, in Maseru.
“This house was built using company funds.”
“I used to initiate payments to suppliers of materials and they would be paid with the company funds.”
Staff Reporter
