By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Suspended ANC member and spokesperson for the disbanded Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association Carl Niehaus alongside some aggrieved ANC staff members have laid an official complaint against the party’s national office-bearers with the Public Protector.
Niehaus wants the Public Protector to urgently investigate the financial issues plaguing the party.
He announced the news on Monday and said that he was not done with the party as further complimentary steps were to be announced on Wednesday.
“When we laid the criminal charges against the ANC, we indicated that we intend to take further complimentary steps and that we will also take two further steps in order to bring the matter to the attention of other government institutions,” said Niehaus.
“The filing of this official complaint with the public protector is the second step that we have envisaged.
“A further announcement and the release of documents regarding the third step that we are undertaking with be announced this Wednesday.
Niehaus last month laid corruption charges against the top brass of the ANC, excluding Ace Magashule, along with the ANC itself.
He said that the investigations relating to those criminal charges were being dealt with as a priority case by the Hawks.
“We are monitoring those investigations very close,” explained Niehaus, who indicated that they were being constantly updated about the investigations and that they have already had two meetings with the lead investigator.
#McDonaldMathabe and myself today filed an urgent complaint with the Office of the #PublicProtector. The details of the complaint is elaborated on in this recorded media statement. https://t.co/9JlDgahN89
— Carl Niehaus (@niehaus_carl) October 18, 2021
He went on to deny that this was a political war on those against the “radical economic transformation”, aligned to those in support of former president Jacob Zuma.
“We want to draw a clear distinction between political issues and these issues of financial and general maladministration and mismanagement.
“This is purely a labour matter, it is not a factional and political issue.”
Niehaus said that he was not going to let the acts of intimidation by the party continue unabated.