Please, Mr President, don’t name Mohlaloga to Icasa council – DA

THE DA is to write to President Jacob Zuma requesting that he not appoint Rubben Mohlaloga to the Icasa council. This comes after he was convicted of fraud.

On Monday, Mohlaloga, Philemon Radichaba Mohlahlane, Dinga Rammy Nkhwashu and Dingamanzi Ka Dinga were found guilty of defrauding the Land Bank of about R6 million in 2008.

And it comes as the ANC in Parliament recommended Mohlaloga serve as chairman of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).

“Rubben Mohlaloga, who has been recommended by the ANC in Parliament to serve as the chairperson of the Icasa council, has this week been convicted of fraud, and is therefore disqualified from serving on the council,” the DA said.

The party said it was now up to Zuma to halt his appointment.

The crime took place in Polokwane in January 2008, when the three accused and Mohlahlane, who was then the Land Bank CEO, organised the transfer of R6m into the trust account of Masepule Dinga attorneys.

The R6m had belonged to the broadbased black economic empowerment framework for agriculture, and the transfer, the Pretoria Specialised Com- mercial Crimes Court heard, was done without supporting documents.

The fund manager later tur ned State witness and said the application for the grant was received only a month after the payment was made. The application, according to a statement by the Hawks, was related to funding to acquire land, livestock and processing units.

The funds were distributed between the suspects and was used to buy a farm for R2m, and a BMW X5 and a BMW 118i for Mohlaloga.

At the time Mohlaloga was an MP and the chairman of the portfolio committee of agriculture.

A further R2.2m was transferred into the business accounts of Masepule Dinga attor neys and used by Nkhwashu.

The four were arrested in October 2012 and on Monday were found guilty of fraud and money laundering and unlawful acquisition, and the possession or use of the proceeds of crime.

Sentencing has been put down for April 3.

“The fact that he (Mohlaloga) has been found guilty of fraud means that he no longer qualifies to serve on the Icasa council” the DA said.

According to the Icasa Act, a person can’t be appointed a councillor if he/ she has a criminal record.