NDZ was in R14.3m ‘Sarafina’ cover-up

THE article by Wesley Seale on Page 17 of the Argus on November 10 contains many inaccuracies which must be refuted.

Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma HAS been linked to corruption scandals.

The most well known concerns the R14.3 million she gave to Mbongeni Ngema’s musical, Sarafina II. These funds came from the anti-Aids budget. She tried to defuse the crisis by claiming that a mystery donor had footed most of the bill, but three years later there was still no sign of any such donor or his money.

She then said, untruthfully, that the play had been funded by the EU – and then sacked her chief public servant, Dr Olive Shisana, for refusing to take the blame.

Meanwhile, fraud charges were laid against Ngema. Judge Willem Heath, investigating the matter, called Dlamini Zuma “reckless” and “negligent”.

Her record as minister of health was shocking. She was an Aids denialist.

The Aids pandemic doubled in two years – from 7.6% in 1994 to 14.2% in 1996.

Also, her officials found her impossible to work with. As foreign finister she was equally disastrous.

She re-arranged her own foreign flights so frequently (once changing her flights 27 times in a week) that her officials had no idea where she was.

The US ambassador, Eric Bost, lost his temper after failing to get any of the appointments he requested.

References: R W Johnson South Africa’s Brave new world.

F BOYD Betty’s Bay