By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate (NPA-ID) dismissed reports that former Cabinet minister and African National Congress (ANC) MP Tina Joemat-Pettersson was threatened with an arrest.
Joemat-Pettersson died at the age of 59 this week after she was implicated in a R600 000 bribery scandal linked to suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
It has been alleged that Joemat-Pettersson acted as an intermediary in a plot to extort money from Mkhwebane’s husband, David Skosana, in order to have her parliamentary inquiry halted.
Her fellow ANC MPs, Pemmy Majodina and Qubudile Dyantyi, who chairs the Section 194 Inquiry on Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office, were also allegedly involved in the “scheme”.
A criminal case was laid with the police by Skosana.
Former ANC MP and political analyst, Melanie Verwoerd dismissed speculation that Joemat-Pettersson committed suicide amid he allegations against her.
Verwoerd said that the late ANC MP had been sick for a long time – suffering from cancer.
In a statement released by her sons Terrence and Austin Pettersson said their mother, who chaired the parliamentary portfolio committee on police, “passed away in the comfort of her home”.
“The cause of death at this stage is unknown and we ask that members of the public and media allow the authorities to complete their processes,” her sons said.
It has since been revealed that Joemat-Pettersson was questioned by the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate (ID) last Saturday.
However, the ID has denied that Joemat-Pettersson had been interrogated or even discussed the extortion allegations.
“The ID isn’t dealing with any allegations involving any complaints by Mkhwebane. The team did meet with Joemat-Pettersson to clarify issues regarding an existing ID matter,” ID spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka said.
“She wasn’t interviewed as a suspect. The team simply sought to [have her clarify some issues] in her official capacity. Her death is unfortunate and any intimation that it was related to the visit of the ID team is contemptible and ill-informed. The ID team won’t be used to create sensation about such untruths, “Seboka added.
The extortion allegations have taken centre stage at Mkhwebane’s inquiry, with the suspended public protector seeking Dyantyi’s removal from the parliamentary process.
Mkhwebane wrote Dyantyi to asking the Section 194 Inquiry chair to recuse himself “out of his own conscience” due to the allegations.
She also threatened to share the recordings and WhatsApp exchanges between Joemat-Pettersson and her husband during the press conference scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 13th of June 2023.