Former KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development MEC, Mike Mabuyakhulu, appeared in the Durban Commercial Crimes court on charges of corruption involving a tender of 28-million rand for the cancelled 2012 North Sea Jazz Festival in the province.
The state alleges that a tender was issued, even though the festival had been cancelled, and that the money was immediately disbursed among a group of companies. It’s alleged that Mabuyakhulu also received some money.
Mabuyakhulu appeared calm in the dock of Durban’s Commercial Crimes Court. His co-accused are his former Head of Department Desmond Golding, and five other business people.
The court has heard that they handed themselves over to the police for the court appearance.
The charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering of 28-million rand is linked to plans to host the North Sea Jazz Festival in the province in 2012.
Prosecutor Mlungisi Nkwanyana has told the court that Golding awarded a 28-million rand tender to Soft Skills Communications even though the festival had been cancelled.
The state alleges that the money was immediately spread among a group of 7 companies. Nkwanyana also told the court that Mabuyakhulu allegedly received payment.
All the accused have indicated that they will be pleading not guilty.
Ceaser Mkhize, who was director of Soft Skills Communications says in a sworn statement that he has been defending himself in a series of civil cases over the cancelled festival for a number of years now. Representing Mabuykhulu, advocate Paul Jorgensen told the court that the criminal investigation has been ongoing for quite some time.
Mabuyakhulu resigned as member of the provincial legislature in 2016, after he was axed along with three other MEC’s. This came in the wake of the hotly contested ANC provincial leadership elections the previous year.
The ANC National Executive Committee recently appointed Mabuyakhulu as a convenor of a provincial task team that will oversee new party leadership elections expected to be held in the next few months.
Mabuyakhulu led the campaign to support now ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa before the party’s national elective conference last December. His supporters are questioning the timing of the investigation, the case in court, and claim this could be part of a plan to discredit him.
Magistrate Christobelle Mazibuko granted bail of 50-thousand rand each to Mabuyakhulu, Golding and Mkhize. The others were granted 30-thousand bail each. The case has been remanded to the 6th of April.
