• Brand SA's board member George Sebulela says the entity has a "zero tolerance" approach to fraud and corruption.
• Sebulela says the state-owned entity is not corrupt as alleged by its former CEO Kingsley Makhubela.  
• Makhubela compiled a 53-page document, in which he alleged widespread corruption at Brand SA. 

One of Brand South Africa's board trustees, George Sebulela, says it is not "factual" that the state-owned entity is corrupt as alleged by its former CEO Kingsley Makhubela. 

Addressing reporters in Johannesburg on Wednesday morning, Sebulela said Makhubela's corruption claims will harm the entity "in one way or another".

"But as we sit today, there is no harm, there are no facts in what he says - and, therefore, we will continue with our work, without any disturbance," he said.

Brand SA is a state-owned brand and image management agency.

It manages the reputation of South Africa to increase tourism and investment.  

Makhubela compiled a 53-page document, which detailed alleged abuses of power, corruption, maladministration and lack of proper governance, City Press earlier reported.  

The former CEO questioned why a R45 million contract for reputational management for South Africa internationally was awarded to a UK-based agency, and allegedly paid upfront with no official contract.

Makhubela was suspended as Brand SA's CEO in April 2018 and an internal disciplinary hearing recommended his dismissal in 2019. His contract expired on 31 July.

On Wednesday, Sebulela said Makhubela was paid in full what was legally due to him and the process of finding a new, permanent CEO was under way.

He also said the entity has "zero tolerance on fraud and corruption".

Sebulela said they took it upon themselves, as the board, to submit Makhubela's 53-page document to the Auditor-General for forensic investigation.

He said the Auditor-General confirmed the document would be given urgent attention.

He also said if the findings reveal there was any corruption, they would "act swiftly".  

He denied Makhubela's claims about the R45 million contract.

"There is no prepayment of a R45 million contract that was concluded by Brand SA. There is no such a contract."

On allegations of corruption harming the entity, Sebulela said: "The only challenge is when an ex-leader of an organisation will go public and present a story that does not exist or presents information that [is] not factual.

"By nature, and by the responsibility of the organisation of the size of Brand SA, that is supposed to look after the country, it questions the credibility of Brand SA if somebody raises issues of corruption. It is just a common cause.  

"The position he has taken against Brand SA has created a perception that [the company] is corrupt, which is not factual and, therefore, indirectly, one way or the other, it will harm the entity."

Meanwhile, the chairperson of the board, Thandi Tobias, said they would be willing to appear or submit documents before the commission of inquiry into state capture, which is chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, if they were asked to do so.

"We support the South African government and the call of the president on issues of corruption," she said.