Infamous ANC struggle veteran Carl Niehaus has emerged from seclusion to represent NGN Telecoms, a value-added service provider to telecom operators across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.
The company's Web site says it focuses on providing voice and data services to “government institutions, government-owned entities, public and private-owned businesses and retail clients”.
Niehaus distracted delegates at last week's GovTech conference, in Durban, with his appearance among the audience at the opening plenary session. Initially, industry and government representatives theorised he was simply accompanying one of the influential attendees to the start of proceedings.
The former spokesman for the ANC, as well as former president Nelson Mandela, suffered a fall from grace in 2009, amid media exposure of various allegations of fraud related to his tenures at Rhema Church and the Gauteng Economic Development Agency, as well as with several high-ranking party members and influential individuals.
Reports of falsifying his qualifications on his CV and an ANC statement noting Niehaus had deceived party leaders resulted in the political fixture's resignation.
Since then, Niehaus has avoided the public eye and it is unknown what became of the charge of corruption laid by the DA's Jack Bloom against Niehaus and former Gauteng premier Paul Mashatile. This morning Niehaus said he had no legal actions pending against him.
Niehaus's GovTech registration lists his designation as communications executive for NGN, as does his e-mail signature. However, the role is not a fulltime position, according to Niehaus, and does not involve raising the company's exposure and awareness.
“At the last communication I had with the media, I said that I will communicate further with the media when I feel that I am ready to do so; I do not believe it is yet the time to do so. My handling of former difficulties are personal, and I am not prepared to discuss that publically,” he said in response to requests for comment.
NGN, led by BEE heavyweight Vuli Cuba, declined to comment as Niehaus is not a fulltime employee.
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