Public Protector must investigate predecessor: DA

Public Protector must investigate predecessor: DA
The DA has called on the Public Protector Thuli Madonsela to investigate her predecessor Lawrence Mushwana with a view to determining if he covered up the R11mn 'Oilgate' scandal.


By Paul Vecchiatto

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on the Public Protector Thuli Madonsela to investigate her predecessor Lawrence Mushwana with a view to determining if he covered up the R11 million "Oilgate" scandal.

The Oilgate scandal relates to state money allegedly transferred by Imvume Holdings to the ruling African National Congress' coffers ahead of the 2009 general elections.

Businessman Sandi Majali wrote a letter to the ANC leadership weeks before he died confirming that he had done it.

On Monday Madonsela said she would review the case that her predecessor and now chairperson of the SA Human Rights Commission had compiled. That report was critcised by the Gauteng High Court as being "so scant as not to be an investigation at all".

DA national spokesperson Lindiwe Mazibuko said on Tuesday that she welcomed Madonsela's decision to review the case as it was a step in the right direction even though the she had not committed to fully re-investigating it.

"The Oilgate scandal has been swept under the carpet for far too long," Mazibuko said.

She said that what was needed was a thorough investigation that took into account all the new evidence that had come to light.

"Just as important is an investigation into the role of Madonsela's predecessor, Mushwana, in covering up the Oilgate scandal," Mazibuko said.

She said that if Mushwana abused the Office of the Public Protector to protect the ANC, this should be exposed and he should face the consequences.

In 2009, the parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts also squashed a damning report which painted a picture of corruption and abuse of public funds by the ANC.

"The South African public deserves to know the whole truth behind the Oilgate scandal and, if wrongdoing is found to have occurred, the guilty parties must be held accountable," Mazibuko said.