Panyaza Lesufi implicated in alleged corruption cover-up and thwarting criminal investigation
8 October 2024
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi is alleged to be a central figure in a massive cover-up of rampant corruption, money laundering and fraud that has cost the provincial government hundreds of millions of rand that was allocated to the Department of Social Development (DSD) to support needy NGOs. AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit now represents a whistleblower and has been briefed to ensure the implicated officials and their enablers, including politicians, are held criminally liable for the theft that has been going on for nearly a decade.
The unit has seen several forensic reports on the allocation of funds to non-profit organisations for the implementation of foodbank, school uniform, and dignity pack programmes. The reports identify officials as allegedly committing crimes such as fraud, corruption and money laundering and recommend that both disciplinary and criminal action be taken against them. As has been widely reported, between September 2023 and January this year the DSD suspended 13 implicated officials. However, their suspensions have been lifted and they are back at work.
The whistleblower says Lesufi was provided with the reports, but alleges that instead of acting on them he allowed for the appointment of a law firm to review those reports and exonerate the implicated officials, and terminated the mandate of the law firm appointed to conduct the disciplinary hearings of the 13 officials.
In a letter to Lesufi’s office, Adv. Gerrie Nel, head of the unit, says this conduct appears to be an attempt to conceal the alleged crimes and protect the implicated officials. “The conduct of your office and the MEC for Social Development, in the absence of a reasonable explanation, may be construed as defeating the ends of justice and/or at least fruitless and wasteful expenditure. It beggars’ belief that the department would review their own report obtained from an Independent source.
“Considering your conduct, we must draw your attention to Section 34 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 12 of 2004, which obligates you to report offences prescribed by the Act to law enforcement agencies and cooperate in disclosing all available information to the authorities for their consideration.
“Our client’s approach to the AfriForum Private Prosecution unit is premised on the worrying failure of government to protect and support whistleblowers. Our office has not ruled out approaching the courts to compel the Premier to do his duty,” said Nel.
Barry Bateman, spokesperson for the unit, says it’s inexplicable why a premier, supposedly committed to clean governance, would allegedly stimey attempts to root out corruption in his government. “The whistleblower alleges that Premier Lesufi’s stands as the stumbling block to internal disciplinary and criminal cases proceeding against the implicated officials. It is alleged that the reason for this is fear that any full investigation into the allegations will eventually lead to the final beneficiaries of these illicit funds. There is always the concern that when the pawns in a criminal enterprise are nabbed, they might turn on their enablers and beneficiaries. The best way to protect oneself is to protect the foot soldiers. AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit stands firm against selective prosecution will monitor developments closely to ensure the implicated are held accountable” said Bateman.
Issued by Barry Bateman, Communications Manager: Private Prosecution Unit, AfriForum, 8 October 2024
