Cape Town — African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, has defended the corruption allegations against Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
The Hawks launched an investigation into Ntshavheni’s involvement in the irregular awarding of a R2.5 million tender for accounting consultancy services during her tenure as Municipal Manager of the Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality in July 2009.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) have expressed concern about Ntshavheni still having a ministerial role.
The EFF criticised the Ntshavheni for evading accountability and said her actions were indicative of the broader issues in local government corruption in South Africa, while the DA called on Ntshavheni to step down immediately and be relieved of her duties.
The DA and the EFF have called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to take action against Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, following reports that the Hawks have concluded their investigation into a R2.5 million tender corruption case dating back to 2009.https://t.co/tSlcM2gwlP
— African Insider (@AfricanInsider2) January 21, 2025
In response to the allegations levelled against Ntshavheni led Mbalula to defend the Minister and said no charges had been levelled against her, he said in a video on X.
“There is nothing really against Khumbudzo at the present moment that we need to respond to except there are reports that the Hawks finalised a report about alleged corruption, it ends there. We will respond to something tangible when someone is arrested,” Mbalula said.
“Law enforcement in South Africa must not try people through the media and want to find them guilty. If you’ve got a case you know what needs to be done, you arrest that person and that person gets bail or does not get bail, goes to court and that’s it,” Mbalula added.
“There is no kangaroo court through the media, where now Khumbudzo must explain herself through the media that she is guilty or not guilty. Somebody from the Hawks is communicating. You know these people are undermining the integrity of state institutions, the rule of law,” he said.
“The principle of our jurisprudence is being undermined, and we won’t agree to that. If anyone has got a case against anyone, why do you leak to the media and want to try people through the media? It’s exactly what happened to Thembi Nkadimeng about VBS,” Mbalula explained.
WATCH BELOW:
[WATCH] There is nothing about Cde Khumbudzo that we need to respond to.#ANCNEC#LetsDoMoreTogether pic.twitter.com/Uve39VGdRk
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) January 20, 2025
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Picture: X/@MbalulaFikile
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
