Top ANC official denies he is corrupt
A WEALTHY Eastern Cape businessman who is also the Alfred Nzo ANC regional treasurer, has defended himself in the face of a Hawks investigation into his business interests.
Businessman Babalo Madikizela is one of many people that the police’s elite crime-fighting unit is said to be investigating in the province. This comes as Hawks national head, Lieutenant-General Berning Ntlemeza formed a task team to investigate fraud and corruption in different municipalities in the province.
Contacted for comment regarding the investigation into Madikizela, Hawks national spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi would not confirm nor deny it. However, a highly placed Hawks source confirmed to the Dispatch that the investigation was under way.
Mnquma Local Municipality manager Sindile Tantsi was arrested in February along with businessman Sive Nombembe.
But Madikizela has come out guns blazing saying he has never been involved in any corruption.
“I am accused or made a suspect for doing work in my province. This is not the first time that I am being investigated and this is denting my image and that of my company. The truth needs to come out, I can’t keep quiet,” said Madikizela.
“There are many companies bidding and winning tenders in municipalities but my companies are always investigated as if they are the only beneficiaries.”
The Daily Dispatch recently obtained a “secret and confidential” report by Kingsbourne, a Johannesburgcompany, in which it was mentioned that one of Madikizela’s companies could have irregularly benefited from tenders in Ntabankulu Local Municipality.
Asked about their investigation, Kingsbourne said they could not reveal any details as it was confidential.
Last week, the Dispatch obtained a second investigation report about Mbizana Local Municipality where again, Madikizela’s name is mentioned. This report was sanctioned by cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa.
This was after Bekwa Matshoba, a former councillor at Mbizana Local Municipality, wrote to the Eastern Cape premier’s office complaining about alleged corruption at the municipality.
In the letter, Matshoba alleged that Madikizela, Mbizana mayor Makhaya Twabu, the council speaker and other officials were involved in maladministration and corruption activities.
Matshoba said the municipality’s plant was being hired out to service providers who didn’t pay the municipality.
A task team was assembled for a “fact-finding” investigation and the team conducted interviews at the municipality.
The subsequent report eventually exonerated Madikizela.
“The allegation against Madikizela could not be proved as there is nothing substantiating it. In the absence of any information indicating otherwise, the team is unable to confirm the allegation. Therefore the allegation is refuted,” read the report.
No details were provided in the report regarding the mayor and other officials.
It was however revealed that there were procurement irregularities in hiring out a municipal plant to service providers.
Xasa’s spokesman, Mamnkeli Ngam has confirmed the investigation.
“A preliminary investigation was conducted in Mbizana municipality. The department is still pursuing the investigation internally with relevant state organs to get to the bottom of the matter,” said Ngam. —