By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@FikileMbalula.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will not charge ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula in connection with allegations regarding funding for his family trips to Dubai in 2016 and 2017.
The family holiday was paid for by Sedgars Sports, a sports clothing manufacturer, while Mbalula was sports minister.
In 2019, Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane recommended that the NPA investigate whether the trip was funded with proceeds of money laundering.
Mkhwebane’s report stated that Sedgaars Sport had paid around R300,000 for the trip. The total cost of the trip was R680,000.
Sedgars was a supplier to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc).
The transaction was also controversial because the owners of Sedgars Sport are the Dockrat family.
The family had previously been accused of working with then Free State premier Ace Magashule to secure a R9.5-million tender to supply 30,000 soccer T-shirts and 20,000 blankets for the 2010 World Cup.
At the time, Mbalula claimed the money he received for the holiday was a loan, which he had repaid.
A police docket was then registered at the Brooklyn police station.
The NPA, however, said it will not be prosecuting anyone in the case because there is no evidence of wrongdoing.
“After police investigations, guided by the prosecutors in the Pretoria SCCU (Specialised Commercial Crime Unit) office, and the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) office, a decision to decline to prosecute anyone in this matter was taken, as there is no evidence supporting allegations of criminal activity,” the NPA said in a statement on Wednesday.
In June, the Hawks confirmed that it had concluded investigations into the allegations against Mbalula and had handed its report to the NPA for a decision to prosecute.
Lobby group Afriforum demanded that the Hawks give an update about the status of its investigation or face court action.
The group believed the allegations against Mbalula were simple and should not have taken several law enforcement agencies to conclude.