The African National Congress (ANC) has come out in defence of Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni who is alleged to have been involved in tender corruption.
Ntshavheni is allegedly being investigated by the Hawks in connection with a R2.5 million tender corruption matter.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on Ntshavheni to immediately step down following the revelation that a Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation into her conduct as Municipal Manager of Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality, involving the multi-million rand tender is ready for prosecution.
The DA’s spokesperson on State Security Dianne Kohler Barnard says Ntshavheni cannot serve as a minister in this portfolio, while under such a serious criminal investigation.
But ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula says, for now, there haven’t been any charges against Ntshavheni. He says those leaking information to the media from the Hawks are undermining the integrity of the country’s law enforcement agencies.
“Law enforcement in SA must not try people through the media and want to find them guilty. If you’ve got a case you know what needs to be done. There is no kangaroo court through the media where now Khumbudzo must explain herself through the media that she is guilty or not guilty. Somebody from the Hawks is communicating. You know these people are undermining the integrity of state institutions. The principle of our jurisprudence is being undermined and we won’t agree to that. If anyone has got a case against anyone why do you leak to the media and want to try people, why do you leak it to the media and want to try people through the media it’s exactly what happened to Tembi Nkadimeng about VBS,” Mbalula explains.
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