By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Investigating Directorate (ID) has dismissed reports that African National Congress (ANC) chairperson Gwede Mantashe’s arrest is imminent.
The report claims Mantashe’s possible arrest stems from security upgrades he received at his properties in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape from Bosasa.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Henry Mamothame said they have taken note of the report and refute speculations.
“The Investigating Directorate refers to an article in the Sunday World, 16 June 2024, referencing the imminent arrest of Gwede Mantashe. The ID does not comment on its investigations and it is important that a misstatement attributed to its office must be corrected.
The ID has not decided nor discussed “the imminent arrest” of Mantashe. It is unclear where these comments come from, but they are not from the ID,” Mamothame said.
Mamothame added the NPA will continue to do its work “without fear, favour or prejudice” and should be given the space to do so without any unnecessary and unwarranted speculations.
In 2022, the State Capture Commission, which was chaired by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, recommended that Mantashe be probed for corruption after receiving security installations for free from Bosasa.
Zondo found that Bosasa operated on a “corrupt business model” regarding its affairs with government.
While Mantashe admitted that security upgrades were installed during his testimony before Zondo in 2021, the minister disputed that there was anything untoward about the installations.
The upgrades were arranged between his security advisor and Bosasa director Papa Leshabane.
Mantashe also contended that it was not done as a means to solicit favours from him, disputing that he was in any position to influence an office-bearer in such a position.
He took the report on judicial review and has asked the Johannesburg High Court to set aside Zondo’s findings against him.
Bosasa established and paid for ANC “war rooms” ahead of the party’s 2012 Mangaung conference and in the lead-up to the 2014 national and provincial elections and the 2016 local government elections. The company provided venues, phone lines and internet access for party volunteers. Bosasa paid millions for the war rooms and the ANC benefited at no cost.