Bosasa executive contradicts Mantashe’s claims, placing him in the middle of the scandal
The DA notes comments by Bosasa executive director, Papa Leshabane, confirming that the company did pay for security upgrades for Gwede Mantashe and that Mantashe “has called him for assistance”, casting further doubts on the Minister’s claims, on 30 September, denying the security upgrades.
Minister Mantashe categorically denied having any knowledge of who paid for the security upgrades at his house. He also, unequivocally, stated that the ANC had paid for these upgrades. This has been contradicted by Bosasa’s Leshabane.
If it is true that Mantashe lied, and is linked to this scandal, then it proves that the Bosasa scandal is implicating not only President Ramaphosa but many other members of the ANC leadership. This could mean that the ANC has, for years, been using Bosasa for ‘favours’ and ‘assistance’ in exchange for government contracts valued in the billions. This would constitute nothing more than yet another corrupt arrangement that exists within the ANC and its government.
Now trading under the name African Global, the company has government contracts worth billions and has previously been reported to have paid for security upgrades and other benefits to other ANC ministers such as Minister of Environmental Affairs, Nomvula Mokonyane; Deputy Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Thabang Makwetla; ANC MP, Vincent Smith; former SAA Chairperson, Dudu Myeni.
Indeed, there is a term for companies that benefit from government contracts lavishing money and “benefits” on politicians: corruption.