SAP co-founder apologises to South Africa over R100m Gupta payment

Credit – SAP

SAP co-founder apologises to South Africa over R100m Gupta payment

The chair of the software giant SAP has apologised to the whole country for the kickback scandal

SAP co-founder apologises to South Africa over R100m Gupta payment

Credit – SAP

Hasso Plattner, the man who co-founded multi-national software company SAP, has offered his ‘profound apologies’ to South Africa.

Plattner was responding to an open letter sent to him by BizNews. It centres around how SAP paid R100m to a Gupta firm in order to secure a lucrative contract in SA, and bribe their way ahead of the competition.

The software giant’s co-founder responded, and spoke of his ‘anger’ with the people in his company who were happy to take kickbacks. The four stooges were immediately suspended and placed under investigation once Plattner found out about the scandal.

An open letter prompts an open response

BizNews approached Mr Plattner in order to probe him about the apparent delay in the inquiry. He expressed his own frustrations over the matter, but insisted that everything has to be conducted above board:

“That the investigation takes this long bothers me as much as it does you. A sooner response would have been preferable, but we also have to be legally correct. I understand that SAP has a responsibility to inform the public and we have strongly urged our outside counsel to expedite the investigation.”

Plattner confirmed that the investigation had been taken over by Baker & McKenzie, as approved by Executive Board Member Adaire Fox-Martin. In his update of the proceedings, he gave his apology to the people of South Africa.

Mrs. Adaire Fox-Martin is prepared to make an announcement regarding the progress, shortly. I guarantee you that we will turn over every leaf in order to find out what happened or didn’t happen.

The business ethics of SAP are clearly stated and there is no room for deviation. As soon as the facts are on the table, the SAP Supervisory Board will meet and discuss the consequences. For the time being, I profoundly apologise to the people of South Africa that this news has created any questions about the ethical business conduct of SAP.

Apology accepted?

As frustrating as another Gupta scandal can be, we think SAP’s top brass can be comended for their reaction to internal corruption.

Rather than accepting an apology, South Africa and it’s government could learn a thing or zwei from the German business.