Truman Prince: DA lays criminal charges and requests Public Protector investigation 

29 January 2016

Yesterday the DA laid criminal charges and requested an investigation by the Office of the Public Protector against the Mayor of Beaufort West, Truman Prince.

There is clear evidence in the form of a letter implicating Mr Prince in corruption.

In the letter, Mr Prince expresses his intention to give tenders to ANC-linked companies in exchange for donations to the ANC.

This is a clear violation in terms of section 3 of the Prevention and Combatting of Criminal Activities Act, which states that it is an offence amounting to an abuse of position or authority if a person “directly or indirectly gives or agrees or offers to give to any other person any gratification, whether for the benefit of that other person or for the benefit of another person".

My colleague, Sharna Fernandez, the Constituency Head of Beaufort West has consequently laid criminal charges against Mr Prince yesterday afternoon at the Beaufort West Police Station.

I have written to the Public Protector, Adv Thuli Madonsela, requesting that she investigate Mr Prince’s abuse of his public office.

In terms of the Public Protector Act, the Public Protector is empowered to:  “investigate any improper or unlawful enrichment or receipt of any improper advantage, or promise of such enrichment or advantage, by a person as a result of an act or omission in connection with the affairs of an institution or entity…”

To date, the ANC has neither publicly commented, nor condemned Mr Prince’s actions. It can therefore be assumed that this sort behavour is widely accepted in the ANC.

It is for this reason that we need a full-scale investigation of this matter by both SAPS and the Public Protector in order to root out the pervasive culture of the exchanging state tenders for financial benefits for the ANC. 

The DA will continue to be vigilant against local government corruption. 

It is because of corruption that service delivery has been poor in some ANC-run municipalities.

Money intended for service delivery is re-directed into the pockets of comrades, and tenders given to companies that neither have the skills or resources required for the task at hand.

The DA looks forward to feedback from both SAPS and the Office of the Public Protector in both these matters.

Statement issued by Phumzile Van Damme, DA National Spokesperson, 29 January 2016