Wicks reveals charges against him

Boys will be boys, even after shedding their toys, but Lonrho, major investor in defunct SA Independent Liner Services (Sails), was clearly concerned over what it terms inappropriate spending at the hands of Sails MD, Ian Wicks, prior to moves to dissolve the business. The 12-point charge sheet against Wicks followed an enquiry by the British pan-African conglomerate into his conduct while at the helm (until June this year). It was subsequently transformed into a disciplinary enquiry cut short in the embryonic stage after application was lodged, and granted, in the Cape High Court for the provisional liquidation of the South Africanregistered company. Wicks, the creator of Sails, enthusiastically pursued his dream of establishing a smaller line that could effectively make its mark in the North Europe-South Africa-West Africa trades, while not competing head-on with the likes of major players, MSC and Safmarine. Last week, at the behest of FTW, ever-approachable Wicks made available the hithertoverboten charges, all of which he has, and continues to, strenuously deny. He points out that none of the charges relate to questions over his so-called management style, nor do they in any way imply financial misappropriation on his part. Company entertainment, stresses Wicks, is pertinent to all economic sectors – not the least shipping – so he offers no excuses for Sails monies spent on such pursuits, the prime motive being to further company interests. Lonrho held a different view, however, highlighting Sails’ expenditure on nightlife, mainly of the kind appealing to red-blooded, heterosexual males. (Those entertained were existing and would-be-clients, also seafarers, no doubt linked to Sails). The allegations suggest he spent nearly R37 000 on entertainment at Mavericks Revue Bar, an upmarket Cape Town nighterie featuring attractive, scantily-clad, female dancers, between October 2007 and May of this year. These, maintains Lonrho, were either unreasonable, unauthorised or improper, but Wicks says it’s small potatoes compared to what the line was turning over in May, the month before his suspension. Turnover was R38 million, against a loss of R9.5 million while total company entertainment was R257 000 between July 2007 and June this year. He tells FTW Lonrho conceded two other counts, relating to a spend of around R10 000 at Cape Town’s Bang Bang Club, apparently a disco-type operation, were in order, as was Sails’ R100 000 2007 year-end function for about 160 people at Wakame, a posh Japanese restaurant in Mouille Point on the Atlantic Seaboard.