"Arrest Mabuyakhulu and Nkonyeni" - COPE

It is a disgrace that the ANC is trying to defend two of its senior Kwazulu-Natal Legislature members who face arrest for fraud and corruption.

KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development and Tourism MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu and Legislature Speaker Peggy Nkonyeni are at the centre of a police investigation involving fraud and corruption relating to R1m donation by South American businessman Gaston Savoi to the African National Congress (ANC) in 2007 in exchange for R45m government tender. Warrants of arrest have been issued for the two, but this has not yet been enacted for reasons that have not yet been articulated.

We reject with contempt the ANC and ANCYL claims that the case involving Mabuyakhulu and Nkonyeni is a 'politically motivated investigation'. An investigation into these matters is in the public interests as taxpayers money is involved. It is abundantly clear that corruption in an ANC government is unstoppable, unless we act together to stamp out these tendencies.

These are the signs that if we do not stand tall and fight these corrupt monsters, our country will become a banana republic. These corrupt tendencies and a culture of harbouring and protecting criminals in government is unbecoming of any ruling party. The Congress of the People says that nobody is above the law, and we therefore call on the relevant law enforcement agencies to act swiftly in removing political-criminals from government. 

These revelations are only the latest in a narrative of thievery perpetrated by those in government. To this end, the Congress of the People demands the arrest of Mabuyakhulu and Nkonyeni before the end of the day since their warrants of arrest have already been issued. A thorough investigation into these serious allegations needs to be conducted. We encourage the relevant law enforcement agencies to expose these cynical manipulations of the government tender system.

Statement issued by Mr. Dennis Bloem, Cope NCOP Whip, July 12 2011

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