Marshall fights back

GOTHATAONE MOENG
Staff Writer | Tuesday May 7, 2013 00:00

 

In a protracted 21-page statement that sought to clear his name, Marshall said he was shocked by the 'smear campaign' by fellow BMC insiders, who accused him of racism and driving the agenda of a 'white feedlotting cartel.'  He suggested that the insiders do not take seriously the oath to tell the Mephato Reatile-headed committee nothing but the truth.

'It is unfortunate that some people do not take the oath seriously. Lies have become the order of the day,' he said.He dismissed former Executive Chairman of the BMC Dr Martin Mannathoko's testimony as motivated by 'professional jealousy.'

'I have soundly trounced him where it matters the most, in cattle farming, where we are competitors. I have never worked with him so his knowledge of me is minimal. This is nothing more than professional jealousy,' he said.Marshall, who appeared before the committee this second time at his own request, called Haggie Isaacs, a commercial farmer, 'a peddler of misinformation' and someone who seeks to blame people for his business inadequacies.

Isaacs appeared before the committee in mid-April with the accusation that Marshall and Neil Fitt tried to seduce him into a feed-lotting deal, where Marshall would be a silent partner.Marshall said there have never been any complaints of a racial nature against him by BMC staff. He listed all that he has done to benefit the local cattle producing industry. He said he was saddened by former president Sir Ketumile Masire's testimony that the BMC frustrated him (Masire) as he had personally been accommodating to Masire's company. 

Regarding his recruitment and salary that was more than both the BMC CEO and other managers, Marshall says he was headhunted by BMC and was to apply for the position.  He said that when the position was advertised in the paper, he did not apply for it as he did not have a degree, a requirement for the position. 

Nonetheless, he was asked to submit his curriculum vitae.  He revealed that he was later called by HRMC, a human resources consultancy, who told him that they would like to interview him but noticed that he had no degree.  Marshall said he confirmed that he did not have a degree, and that Dr Motshodi Raborokgwe, CEO of BMC at the time, gave HRMC leave to interview him for the position. 

Initially, he did not want to take the job up as it paid less than his place of employment. He said this led to a special package being designed for him.