David Mabuza

Deputy President David Mabuza
Image Source: Flickr

David Mabuza has no knowledge of an investigation against him

It comes as former State Security minister Bongani Bongo faces charges of corruption, during David Mabuza’s tenure as premier.

David Mabuza

Deputy President David Mabuza
Image Source: Flickr

Deputy President David Mabuza has broken his silence following reports that he is being investigated for his role in fraud relating to the acquisition of farms by the Human Settlements Department in Mpumalanga between 2011 and 2012.

In a statement, Mabuza who was premier in the province in the period in which the fraud allegedly took place, stated that he had no knowledge of an investigation against him.

“Whilst the Deputy President confirms that the reported alleged events fall under the period that he was serving as the Premier of Mpumalanga, he would like to categorically deny any involvement and condemn any attempt to drag his name in any form or capacity into the criminal conduct under investigation”

Deputy President David Mabuza

Mabuza went on to commit that he would fully co-operate with law enforcement agencies should there be questions that need his response as a person who was responsible for the province at the time.

He also welcomed the progress made by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) in its investigation into the Mpumalanga land procurement case.

“We welcome progress that law enforcement agencies continue to make in the fight against corruption,” he said.

READ: Fake News alert: Deputy President David Mabuza is ‘alive and well’

CORRUPTION DURING DAVID MABUZA’S TENURE

Member of parliament Bongani Bongo and 10 others were arrested and subsequently appeared in court on Wednesday 28 October 2020 for their role in the case in which more than R124 million was reportedly paid by the provincial government.

The former Minister of State Security who was the Human Settlement department’s head of legal services at the time, appeared on 69 charges for his involvement in the dodgy deals that allegedly saw the prices for farms purchased for township development being inflated.

Four companies also appeared in the charge sheet for corruption, fraud, theft, money laundering, and contravention of the Public Finance Management Act.

Bongo was released on R10 000 bail and will return to court on the 4 March 2021.

The MP is also facing another corruption charge in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court, after allegedly trying to bribe evidence leader of parliament’s state capture inquiry into Eskom, Advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara.