Brett Kebble
Encyclopedia
Roger Brett Kebble was a South Africa
n mining magnate with close links to factions
in the ruling political party, the African National Congress
. He was shot to death in 2005 by unknown assailants.
Kebble was born in the mining town of Springs, on the East Rand. He matriculated from St. Andrew's School, Bloemfontein
, in 1981, and then went on to the University of Cape Town
, from where he graduated in 1986.
His first job was as an articled clerk
for Mallinicks, now Webber Wentzel
, in Cape Town in the late 1980s. He was involved in the sale by Anglo American of its JCI
gold assets to Mzi Khumalo
in 1995, but the partnership ended soon after.
In August 2005 he was deposed from the companies he ran, Western Areas, JCI and Randgold & Exploration, following moves by concerned investors and stakeholders. An investigation followed to determine the whereabouts of some R2-billion-worth of Randgold Resources
shares, which Randgold & Exploration could not easily account for and which had either been loaned out or sold. This was followed by the suspension of JCI and Randgold & Exploration shares. Recently, Randgold & Exploration has been relisted on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
In public and private, Kebble lived a flamboyant life. He had strong business and political connections with President Jacob Zuma
and the ANC Youth League, and was viewed by some as a black-economic empowerment visionary.
He married Ingrid in December 1990 and they had four children.
in Melrose
Johannesburg
at around 9pm on 27 September 2005 while driving to a dinner engagement. An autopsy performed three days after the murder found that the bullets were a rare, 'low velocity' type used by bodyguards and crack security operatives. The purpose of such bullets, which requires a specially adapted pistol, was to hit assassins and terrorists without passing through their bodies and hitting bystanders or hostages. Despite the closer range, the gunpowder burns in general were not severe, providing further evidence that the ammunition was of a special "reduced charge".http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1829589,00.html
On 16 November 2006 businessman Glenn Agliotti was arrested in connection with the murder of Brett Kebble. Agliotti, a convicted drug-dealer, is a close personal friend of South African Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi
. Agliotti is alleged to have strong links with organised crime and racketeering.http://www.suntimes.co.za/SpecialReports/Kebble/Default.aspx?ID=135056 On 27 October 2008, the National Prosecuting Authority officially recognised that Kebble orchestrated his own murder. As of July 2010, his death is the subject of a high profile court case, with a number of state witnesses admitting complicity. However, in November 2010 Agliotti was acquitted when the court ruled that the state had not made a prima facie case against him.
Legal action has since been ongoing to resolve the issue of the missing Randgold Resources shares. On 21 January 2010 a revised settlement agreement was signed between the JCI Group and the Randgold & Exploration Group.
The Kebble as it became known, was the most inclusive award of its kind (often criticized for including a “craft” category to be judged on par with the other mediums like painting, sculpture, printmaking and photography) in South Africa. Adding to this, it was also the richest, having a total purse of R620 000 (roughly $98 000) with a grand prize of R200 000 (roughly $32 000).
After Kebble’s murder, his family decided to cancel the 2006 awards.
In February 2006, artist Deborah Weber opened a solo exhibition in Johannesburg
called The Kebble on the same day that the BKAA were to open at the Cape Town International Convention Centre
. She explored the time trajectory from being selected as an artist for the 2004 Kebble Art Awards, to working on the awards in 2005, and ending with Brett Kebble’s death in September 2005.
".
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n mining magnate with close links to factions
Political faction
A political faction is a grouping of individuals, such as a political party, a trade union, or other group with a political purpose. A faction or political party may include fragmented sub-factions, “parties within a party," which may be referred to as power blocs, or voting blocs. The individuals...
in the ruling political party, the African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
. He was shot to death in 2005 by unknown assailants.
Kebble was born in the mining town of Springs, on the East Rand. He matriculated from St. Andrew's School, Bloemfontein
St. Andrew's School, Bloemfontein
St. Andrew's School, established in 1863 is a public school for boys located in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa.The years of study are from pre-primary to grade 12...
, in 1981, and then went on to the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
, from where he graduated in 1986.
His first job was as an articled clerk
Articled clerk
An articled clerk, also known as an articling student, is an apprentice in a professional firm in Commonwealth countries. Generally the term arises in the accountancy profession and in the legal profession. The articled clerk signs a contract, known as "articles of clerkship", committing to a...
for Mallinicks, now Webber Wentzel
Webber Wentzel
Webber Wentzel is a "Big Five" law firm principally based in Johannesburg, South Africa, with offices in Cape Town and London.Webber Wentzel was founded in 1868 and is the only one of the large law firms to retain a traditional partnership organization and not incorporate...
, in Cape Town in the late 1980s. He was involved in the sale by Anglo American of its JCI
JCI Limited
JCI or Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Co. Ltd. was founded in 1889 by the British entrepreneur Barney Barnato. JCI was a major force in South African mining for over 100 years. Using his investments in the Kimberley diamond fields, particularly his 25% share in De Beers, Barnato foresaw the...
gold assets to Mzi Khumalo
Mzi Khumalo
Mzi Godfrey Khumalo is a South African businessman and mining entrepreneur.He has held the following positions :-* Chairman - Mintek * Director - Ridge Mining...
in 1995, but the partnership ended soon after.
In August 2005 he was deposed from the companies he ran, Western Areas, JCI and Randgold & Exploration, following moves by concerned investors and stakeholders. An investigation followed to determine the whereabouts of some R2-billion-worth of Randgold Resources
Randgold Resources
Randgold Resources is a Jersey-based gold mining business operating mainly in Mali. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ stock exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
shares, which Randgold & Exploration could not easily account for and which had either been loaned out or sold. This was followed by the suspension of JCI and Randgold & Exploration shares. Recently, Randgold & Exploration has been relisted on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
In public and private, Kebble lived a flamboyant life. He had strong business and political connections with President Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
and the ANC Youth League, and was viewed by some as a black-economic empowerment visionary.
He married Ingrid in December 1990 and they had four children.
Death
He was shot dead near a bridge over the M1M1 (Johannesburg)
The M1 De Villiers Graaff motorway is a major freeway in Johannesburg, South Africa. The highway connects the southern areas with the city centre and extends further north through Sandton...
in Melrose
Melrose, Gauteng
Melrose is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is located in Region 3.Melrose is a developing up-market suburb with an expanding commercial sector. The streets are lined with many international branded motor car dealerships....
Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
at around 9pm on 27 September 2005 while driving to a dinner engagement. An autopsy performed three days after the murder found that the bullets were a rare, 'low velocity' type used by bodyguards and crack security operatives. The purpose of such bullets, which requires a specially adapted pistol, was to hit assassins and terrorists without passing through their bodies and hitting bystanders or hostages. Despite the closer range, the gunpowder burns in general were not severe, providing further evidence that the ammunition was of a special "reduced charge".http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1829589,00.html
On 16 November 2006 businessman Glenn Agliotti was arrested in connection with the murder of Brett Kebble. Agliotti, a convicted drug-dealer, is a close personal friend of South African Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi
Jackie Selebi
Jacob Sello Selebi is the former national commissioner of the South African Police Service, and a former president of Interpol. In January 2008, Selebi was put on extended leave as national police commissioner, and resigned as president of Interpol, after he was charged with corruption in his...
. Agliotti is alleged to have strong links with organised crime and racketeering.http://www.suntimes.co.za/SpecialReports/Kebble/Default.aspx?ID=135056 On 27 October 2008, the National Prosecuting Authority officially recognised that Kebble orchestrated his own murder. As of July 2010, his death is the subject of a high profile court case, with a number of state witnesses admitting complicity. However, in November 2010 Agliotti was acquitted when the court ruled that the state had not made a prima facie case against him.
Legal action has since been ongoing to resolve the issue of the missing Randgold Resources shares. On 21 January 2010 a revised settlement agreement was signed between the JCI Group and the Randgold & Exploration Group.
Sale of art collection
His art collection went under the hammer on 6 May 2009. Bidders from as far as Australia, New Zealand and Pennsylvania were at the auction. 133 pieces of art were sold for ZAR53.90 million. This falls short of the one billion rand that he was said to have squandered.The Brett Kebble Art Awards
Kebble was the controversial patron of the Brett Kebble Art Awards which he established in 2003 to provide a showcase for established artists, and to help those less known to attain recognition. It was also meant to build a non-racial bridge into the 21st century.The Kebble as it became known, was the most inclusive award of its kind (often criticized for including a “craft” category to be judged on par with the other mediums like painting, sculpture, printmaking and photography) in South Africa. Adding to this, it was also the richest, having a total purse of R620 000 (roughly $98 000) with a grand prize of R200 000 (roughly $32 000).
After Kebble’s murder, his family decided to cancel the 2006 awards.
In February 2006, artist Deborah Weber opened a solo exhibition in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
called The Kebble on the same day that the BKAA were to open at the Cape Town International Convention Centre
Cape Town International Convention Centre
The Cape Town International Convention Centre is a convention centre in Cape Town, South Africa. The centre opened in June 2003. It hosted the Final Draw of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa...
. She explored the time trajectory from being selected as an artist for the 2004 Kebble Art Awards, to working on the awards in 2005, and ending with Brett Kebble’s death in September 2005.
Literary mentions
Brett Kebble is used as an illustration for corruption in South African companies - see Chapter 5 "Forget the Vision and the Mission" in Muzi Kuzawayo's book amusingly titled There's a Tsotsi in the Board Room".