Cape Town – Western Cape legislature speaker Masizole Mnqasela has responded to fraud and corruption allegations laid him.
Mnqasela maintained, during a media briefing on Sunday, that he was innocent.
“… I have to say, the revelations by the DA to say to the Hawks, please investigate, I welcome them. Nobody is above the law, and no one should be treated in a special way. I am not a thief, I am not a criminal, my record of public service speaks for itself,” News24 quoted Mnqasela as saying.
Mnqasela’s remarks came after Democratic Alliance said on Friday that it had reported him to Hawks over allegations of fraud and corruption.
The party said that it had given the Hawks on Friday, documents relating to subsistence, travel and entertainment allowance claims from Mnqasela.
A report by Times Live said that while Mnqasela said he believed in the principle that all facts must be put on the table before any judgment was passed, he also suggested a political fallout within the DA might be behind allegations against him.
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“As a politician I am not naive to the reality that there are politics and there is law and there are systems.
“I pray and hope there is no malfeasance that borders on the line of fractional battles because I wouldn’t want to see party politics being used in any way to deal with MPs when we have systems in parliament to deal with matters of behaviour of members,” said Mnqasela.
The DA issued a statement, saying that whistle-blowers recently approached the Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, to report the allegations.
Winde asked the whistle-blowers to produce the evidence to back up the claims.
“On Wednesday this week, the whistle-blowers duly submitted protected disclosures, with documentary evidence. They wish to remain anonymous, a request we respect,” said the DA in a statement.
The party said that it further reported the matter to its Federal Legal Commission (FLC) for urgent investigation.
In the meantime, Winde, has reportedly asked Mnqasela to step down amid the investigation, according to IOL.
“The Western Cape DA caucus leader, Alan Winde, indicated to Mr Mnqasela that he should step down,” said Richard Newton, DA communications director as quoted by the report.
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Picture: Facebook/ Masizole Mnqasela
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
