Home

‘Pressure on ANC to take action against some members mentioned in State Capture report Part 3’

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Political Analyst Ralph Mathekga says the ANC will be forced to take action against some members mentioned in Part 3 of the State Capture report. The third instalment of the State Capture report has recommended that former President, Jacob Zuma; Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe and former Water and Sanitation Minister, Nomvula Mokonyane be investigated for possible corruption.

Mathekga
says it is likely that Mantashe will be relieved of his duties in the party because of this. The report outlined security upgrades Bosasa paid for at Mantashe’s houses in Elliot and Cala in the Eastern Cape, and Boksburg on Gauteng’s Eastrand while Mantashe was ANC secretary-general.

Mantashe admitted he didn’t pay for the upgrades, but he disputed that they were linked to any potential wrongdoing.

However, in the report Zondo says the provision of free security installations was manifestly part of the corrupt modus operandi of Bosasa and its directors.

Mathekga says this will have serious consequences for Mantashe within the party.

“The release of the third part of the report of the Zondo commission has brought very serious developments as far as the ANC as a political party is concerned. The report implicates very senior members of the party, in that it recommends that they are prosecuted. Among them is also Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe who is also currently serving within the top six of the party. It’s quite difficult given what has happened within the party that Mr Mantashe will be able to continue with his position. The party has taken a position that those who are implicated in wrong doing need step aside.”

Mantashe rejects findings of State Capture Commission Report: Dr Curlewis and Prof Seepe

The commission which investigated allegations of state capture has submitted the third report to President Cyril Ramaphosa. The four-part report zooms in on Bosasa allegations, now African Global Operations. It’s alleged that the utility company was used as a front to get kickbacks in exchange for lucrative government contracts.

Agrizzi was subsequently accused of offering gratification, on behalf of Bosasa, to former MP, Vincent Smith in exchange for his influence.

Agrizzi became a star witness implicating top guns of the ANC during his testimony.

Now, the damning report is out and the evidence reveals that there was widespread corruption in the awarding of contracts and tenders to Bosasa. The report amongst its findings found out that Nomvula Mokonyane in her various positions breached her oath of offices in terms of Section 96 of the constitution.

In terms of Section 96 of the constitution, a member of cabinet is prohibited to expose him/herself to any situation involving the risk of conflict between their responsibility and private interest. The report suggests that Mokonyane be investigated for possible corruption.

PRESSURE ON NPA TO ACT

“I do think that the NPA will be under pressure. They have now a new head of unit that is going to focus on some of this prosecution that would need to flow from the Zondo commission and I think there is going to be so much pressure. The NPA is already under pressure. There is a backlog of cases,” says Ralph Mathekga, political analyst.

Another casualty of the commission’s work was ANC MP Vincent Smith. Smith is already facing pending charges of corruption, fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud.

For former Deputy Minister for Correctional Services Thabang Makwetla’s security installation valued at more R300 000, the commission referred evidence against him to the relevant authorities for investigation and, National Prosecuting Authority to decide whether or not to prosecute.

CEDRIC FROLICK NOT SPARED

ANC MP and former National Assembly Chairperson Cedric Frolick was not spared. He will face investigation based on reasonable prospects that further investigation may uncover a prima facie case of corruption.

Fireworks came when former president Jacob Zuma refused to reappear at the commission.

The commission says a significant portion of the evidence against Zuma on Bosasa is hearsay, but hearsay evidence is admissible in the commission’s proceedings. It calls for more investigation on the basis that there is a reasonable prospect that such further investigation will uncover a prima facie case of corruption.

Jacob Zuma Foundation says Zuma rejects any ‘purported findings’ by Judge Raymond Zondo:
Responding to the findings of the report, the Zuma foundation has rejected the findings, stating that the former president wasn’t afforded a chance.

“The implication of this report on the ANC, the current state of the ANC and the position of the ANC in government it is so significant that the ANC should actually make it very clear what they plan to do. This is not an issue that can be dealt with on a piece meal. The ANC would have to state that with its senior members implicated and also serving in government what is its position here,” Mathekga elaborates.

Meanwhile, on the so called CR17 election campaign by Bosasa, the inquiry says the matter was not investigated by the commission because it was investigated by the Public Protector.

State Capture Report Part 3 | Damning report for the ANC: Professor Dirk Kotze

Author

MOST READ