Mpumalanga press bribery: Premier's position is untenable
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is astonished to learn that the spokesperson for Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza apparently attempted to bribe City Press journalist Sizwe Sama Yende with R5 000 in cash to drop a story that implicated Mr. Mabuza in a major agricultural tender scandal.
According to the report, Mr. Mabuza's spokesperson made it clear that the money in question was being handed over to prevent the story from being published. He even apparently went as far as to say: "One day I will ask you for a favour like I did about the story, and will expect you to help me." Mr. Yende apparently then drove to Nelspruit Police Station, where he handed over the money to authorities.
We welcome the fact that the SAPS Organised Crime Unit is investigating the incident. However, the ANC must state categorically what its position is on this matter, and whether it denies that Mr. Mabuza has been involved in attempting to bribe a journalist.
If there is no public response from the ANC, then that will speak volumes. ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe needs to take immediate action on this matter, and we believe that the Premier's position is simply untenable after these revelations; any political party committed to the basic tenets of democratic and accountable governance would hold to account a major public figure guilty of such behaviour.
Both the bribe and the tender scandal require immediate investigation. The latter allegedly involves the Premier's former business partner receiving a R230-million tender to supply tractors to provincial farmers. The tender was apparently never budgeted for, nor was it part of departmental planning, according to this morning's City Press, whose journalists are in possession of a leaked audit report.
The DA will follow the police investigation very carefully; we will submit regular parliamentary questions to monitor the progress of the bribery investigation, and we will demand that the forensic audit report be publicly released, and that offending parties are held to account.
In the mean time, we expect the ANC to make it clear whether they support Mr. Mabuza, or, if not, what action they will be taking.
Statement issued by Lourie Bosman MP, Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, December 12 2010
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