Bribery claim against minister before ethics committee today
PARLIAMENT’S ethics committee is set to meet with advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara today to discuss claims that State Security Minister Bongani Bongo had tried to bribe him to resign from the inquiry into state capture at Eskom.
The Sunday Times reported claims that Bongo had approached Vanara offering him a blank cheque to resign from the inquiry which, since its inception, has rubbed some members of the ruling party up the wrong way.
Vanara detailed the events in a signed affidavit, which he submitted to parliament’s leadership.
National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete in turn referred the matter
Vanara is scheduled to meet with ethics committee co-chair Omie Singh this morning to discuss the claims.
Also today, the DA’s chief whip John Steenhuisen intends laying corruption charges against Bongo in connection with the allegations.
Steenhuisen said the party was also writing to public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to investigate the matter.
The chair of the Eskom inquiry, Zukiswa Rantho, said they would not be discussing the matter and that it was “between Minister Bongo and the ethics committee now”.
Last week, members of the inquiry moved a motion of confidence in Vanara, who had to the ethics committee. come under attack from Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown and her deputy, Ben Martins for, among other things, claims that he had a conflict of interest and had been conducting the inquiry unethically.
Bongo’s spokesman Brian Dube could not confirm whether parliament had approached Bongo yet or provided him with a copy of the affidavit as requested.
Parliamentary spokesman Moloto Mothapo said the matter had been referred to the joint committee on ethics and members interests.
Singh could not be reached for comment.
Former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe and former board chair Zola Tsotsi are set to appear before the inquiry today.