By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane says the speed at which her office can finalise the investigation into President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leaked audio will depend on the cooperation from those called to make submissions.
This comes after suspected ANC MP Mervyn Dirks lodged a complaint against the party’s leader over alleged knowledge of the use of state funds for political party activities.
Dirks wants Ramaphosa to be held accountable for an admission he made in a leaked audio recording last year.
Mkhwebane’s office received the official compliant last week and has 30 days to complete its investigations.
On Monday, Mkhwebane told journalist during a media briefing that the matter had already been allocated to a team to investigate.
“I haven’t even seen the complaint. Yes, we have received the complaint but what the public must know, all complaints lodged with the Public Protector are sent to our registry, they are assessed there and then they are allocated to an investigation team.
“That will then depend on the cooperation of the people we will be interviewing, which we must still receive the investigation plan like a project plan which will then detail which people to interview and what information do we have to get.”
Unlike other some matters, Mkhwebane added she is compelled by legislation to investigate the matter.
“I would have been happy if I had the discretion because I would then say I wouldn’t investigate the matter or something else but in this instance, we are obligated to investigate.
“The investigation team I think they will try their level best to investigate this matter,” Mkhwebane said.
Mkhwebane’s office must also write to Ramaphosa, asking him to make representation on information he is privy to.
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa has also presented what he considers evidence on the “ANC’s brazen tactics” to Scopa and the Public Protector’s investigations into remarks by Ramaphosa, in which he admitted to knowing of public funds being used by the party.
Holomisa wrote to Mkhuleko Hlengwa and Mkhwebane on Monday.
“In the same vein, I wish to bring to your attention material information that I had submitted, on 23 September 2020, to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture (‘the Zondo Commission’) that has bearing on the matter of who the real perpetrators of state capture were, and still are – especially in the context of the president’s latest remarks i.e. the ANC itself. The State Capture Commission had acknowledged receipt of the submission,” Holomisa wrote.
“The attached dossier consists of correspondence around the matter of Mohlaleng Media, in particular, as a classical example of the ANC’s brazen tactics, which might shed light on your investigative processes. The whistleblowers are still willing to testify.”
In his letter to the commission, Holomisa said that looting from public resources has “become a habitual act to fund the ANC by whatever means necessary, whether it be by paying its cadres’ exorbitant salaries or financing their election campaigns by any means necessary”.
The Mohlaleng Media matter, which Holomisa refers to, is about a contract to a media company which the former DA mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, Athol Trollip, stopped in 2016 after a coalition government took over the city in in 2016.
It is also one of the bones of contention between Holomisa and Trollip after the DA and UDM’s working relationship in Nelson Mandela Bay soured.
Meanwhile Mkhwebane has cleared former Gauteng Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile of allegations of corruption in the leasing of a Johannesburg building at R1.3 million per month.
The Marshalltown building houses some of the department’s entities that include the Gauteng Growth Development Agency and the Liquor Board. The complaint was launched in June 2019 by then the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Gauteng leader, Mandisa Mashego who alleged that the building was overpriced and that the agreement was signed without following prescribed procurement processes. Mkhwebane was releasing a number of investigation reports.
“We found all the allegations unsubstantiated. There was no evidence indicating that Mr Maile signed or extended a lease agreement on behalf of the agreement. As the agreement was concluded in February 2009 and certain clauses were amended as per addendum signed in April 2011. This was prior to Maile being appointed MEC for Economic Development,” said Mkhwebane.