Unions seek bribe probe
COSATU’s big affiliates want the federation’s president S’dumo Dlamini to be taken to task over allegations that he received a bribe from a businessman to facilitate a meeting with former president Jacob Zuma.
The the country’s biggest public sector unions Nehawu and Sadtu said they viewed the allegations against Dlamini in a serious light and expected Cosatu’s officials to deal with the matter swiftly.
Yesterday, Cosatu officials met in an ordinary meeting during which Dlamini, a national executive committee member of the ANC and central committee leader in the SACP, is said to have explained himself on the allegations of receiving a bribe which are being investigated by the Hawks.
Dlamini’s detractors in the federation have for some time been trying to dislodge him as part of dealing with Zuma’s legacy in Cosatu and were set to use the bribe allegations to try to deal a blow to his political career.
Nehawu yesterday called on the federation’s national office bearers to take them into confidence with the allegations around Dlamini.
Nehawu general secretary Zola Saphetha said the union, whose national office bearers are meeting this morning where they will also discuss the Dlamini matter, was waiting for Cosatu leaders to brief them on the allegations against him, which he said the union takes “seriously”.
Dlamini is alleged to have received a R300 000 bribe from abalone dealer Deon Larry to help arrange a meeting with Zuma who was in turn allegedly bribed with R1 million in exchange for not firing Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana who is also the SACP national chairperson.
“Corruption has no space in South Africa, and we will fight it irrespective of how it manifests itself. We are yet to hear from the leadership of Cosatu on what it is saying on this matter after hearing from him.”
Sadtu deputy general secretary Nkosana Dolopi has called on the federation’s leadership to take action and brief the unions about any information they had on the matter.
“The leadership of Cosatu must attend to this matter. It is very serious and they must brief leaders of affiliates and take them into confidence about what action they are taking. But we will also be meeting on Wednesday as officials where we will take a collective resolution on this matter as Sadto,” Dolopi said.
SACP national spokesperson Alex Mashilo said the party would take action against Zokwana should the allegations around him be found to be true.
“In terms of our constitution, if you are in the leadership of the SACP, and you are facing serious charges in a court of law, we ask you to step aside until you clear yourself. The Hawks investigation has to leave no stone unturned in their investigation of this matter,” Mashilo said.
Zokwana had denied any knowledge of the allegations, he said.
Department spokesperson Bomikazi Molapo said: “The minister denies the bribery allegations against him contained in the article. He further denies that he has been involved in any unlawful conduct in relation to the awarding of contracts for processing and sale of confiscated abalone, or any plans to raise money for the ANC through the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.”