Fikile Mbalula must step down if allegations about holiday money are true

9 October 2017

The Minister of Police, Fikile Mbalula, cannot hide behind the principle of the right to privacy with regard to the R680 000 that Sedgars Sport allegedly spent on a holiday of six nights in the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai for him and his family at the end of last year, says Dr Pieter Groenewald, leader of the FF Plus.

Dr Groenewald says that if the allegations are true, it would constitute a serious conflict of interests and that the Minister will then have to admit to it and step down as Minister of Police.

He says that it must also be determined if the alleged gift was recorded in the Cabinet members’ interests register and if it was not, steps need to be taken against the Minister.

“Although Mbalula was the Minister of Sport when the incident occurred, there is a possibility of corruption seeing as Sedgars Sport does business with the South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). Sedgars also provided the South African Olympic team with sports gear.

“In this case it may seem like the money was a bribe. As Minister of Police, Mbalula must be above suspicion in all respects with regard to all forms of corruption.

“It is therefore important that the Minister confirms whether the allegations are true or not. If it is true that he received the private donation, it creates an improper risk and then he should step down as Minister of Police without much ado,” says Dr Groenewald.

Issued by Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus leader, 9 October 2017