ANC MPL faces R250k fraud charge

A BHISHO MPL is being investigated by police after a case of fraud was opened in Port Elizabeth last week.

South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) provincial secretary and ANC whip in the Bhisho legislature Tony Duba is accused of embezzling close to R250 000 from Sanco.

He lost the ANC’s Nelson Mandela Bay regional chair to Andile Lungisa at the weekend.

Speaking to the Daily Dispatch this week, Sanco deputy provincial chairman Dan Bolman said they were shocked to see the money was used to buy fuel for Duba’s vehicle, among other things. Bolman said the account was opened in 2012 in Port Elizabeth.

“The money that’s in the account is from the fees paid by our supporters.

“But to have a leader, a person trusted with such funds do this, that’s a disgrace,” said Bolman.

Port Elizabeth police spokeswoman Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said: “We can confirm the case is with the commercial crimes unit.”

But Duba said he was not worried about the allegations, and he was ready to assist any person who wants to investigate him.

The Dispatch has seen Sanco bank statements dating to October 2012.

Bolman said R243 148 was used by Duba for his personal needs.

In Bolman’s statement, some of the amounts in contention include: ● Over R30 000 spent on fuel; ● More than R74 000 cashed in cheques; ● R8 550 used for car hire and; ● R14 400 spent on hotels. Other funds were allegedly transferred to his personal account or spent dining out.

“We held conferences, we had meetings with our president Richard Mdakane, we held extended PEC meetings and for those we used money,” said Duba, adding the cheques were used to pay for transport and other events.

He said the bank account was for the province and that he had authority to use it. “Interestingly, I am not able to withdraw cash from the account because we want transparency,” he said.

Sanco’s provincial chairman, Dr Zukile Luyenge, has sent Duba a letter of intention to suspend. The letter mentions parallel structures purportedly created by Duba and “huge amounts of money” withdrawn without authorisation. He was given seven days to respond. —