THE LONG HAUL Minister rebukes EFF
TWITTER SMEAR: GRAFT CLAIMS INVOLVING MOKONYANE AND ASSOCIATE
But her office describes the charges as unfounded political mudslinging.
Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane denies allegations by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) suggesting she may have allowed “a certain individual” with whom she has a “personal relationship” to influence department programmes, procurement processes and spending.
On Wednesday, the EFF posted on Twitter the letter it sent to Mokonyane, a member of the national executive committee of the ANC. In the letter the EFF asks the minister questions related to the named individual and whether or not he has any influence over her department.
Mokonyane’s office said late on Wednesday night the letter had been received. It came from the chief whip of the EFF Floyd Shivambu and that it had subsequently been leaked via social media to the public and to the media.
The minister’s office said the letter implied that “a certain individual, with a close relationship with the minister, is influencing departmental programmes, procurement processes and spending; and that the minister is the owner of a certain property worth R40 million in the suburb of Sandhurst, Johannesburg”.
The EFF’s letter also asks if Mokonyane knows the individual mentioned and if she has a “personal relationship” with him that allegedly enables him to influence the goings-on in her department.
The party also wants to know how many times the minister has met with this individual.
Responding to the questions, Mokonyane’s office said: “The minister has formally responded to the chief whip of the EFF and for the public record wishes to state the individual referred to is nei-
It’s aimed at tarnishing the minister’s name with the intention of distracting her from her responsibilities for nefarious political ends.
ther in the employ of the department nor any of its entities and as such is in no way involved in the operational and decision-making processes of the department.
“Equally, the minister has declared all her assets and interests including properties as required by the Register of Members Interests and owns no such property.
“The allegations are aimed at tarnishing the name and good image of the minister with the intention of distracting her from her responsibilities for nefarious political ends.”
Mokonyane’s office said she rejected the allegations “as unfounded and without factual basis and refuses to be intimidated by such actions for the benefit of EFF financial and political interests and those whose financial fortunes they seek to bolster by such action”. – ANA
Office of water and sanitation minister