Bhisho – Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has approached the Bhisho High Court in a bid to interdict the Hawks from conducting an investigation against him.
Mabuyane wants the court to declare that the Hawks’ decision to continue with an investigation of him is invalid, unconstitutional and unlawful.
The public protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s report found that the premier and public works MEC Babalo Madikizela unduly benefited from funds intended for struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s memorial service.
“A total of R450 000 allegedly went towards renovations at Mabuyane’s Bunker’s Hill private home in East London, while Madikizela allegedly benefitted to the value of R350 000.
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The amount was allegedly paid into the FNB account of IPM Plant Hire CC – a private company owned by his wife, Zona Zetu Siyazithanda Madikizela. About R280 000 of the memorial funds was apparently paid into the ANC’s fundraising account from a total of R1.1 million from the former Mbizana local municipality (now known as Winnie Madikizela-Mandela municipality),” the report outlined.
Mkhwebane instructed law enforcement to move on Mabuyane.
Mabuyane questioned the role of the Hawks from the Free State in the matter while claiming that the investigation was part of a political plot linked to calls he’d previously made for ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule to step aside over his corruption charges, EWN reported.
But Magashule has since dismissed the allegations, saying “I have no such power. Let me not enter that space, that’s not for me to decide,” according to TimesLIVE.
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Compiled by Reginald Nhlapo
