ANC axes arrested staffer

ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN CASH HEIST: TRACKED DOWN TWO WEEKS AGO

DA mayor of Joburg questions whether ANC knew about implication of its employee in van attack.

The ANC moved fast to axe an employee at its headquarters, Luthuli House in Johannesburg, after news broke yesterday of his arrest during a cash-in transit heist blitz on July 6 and 7.

“The allegations that led to Errol Velile Present’s arrest and the charges against him are of such a serious nature that the party had to exercise rules provided for in the ANC personnel manual, terminating his service with immediate effect,” ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe said yesterday.

Present has worked for the ANC for more than 10 years.

He has also been involved in a land scandal. It is alleged he was given a R97 million farm (Bekendvlei in Limpopo) after meeting then deputy director-general in the department of rural development and land reform, Vusi Mahlangu.

Mahlangu is now working for Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane after former minister of rural development Gugile Nkwinti fired him.

Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba yesterday said he had been informed of four arrests of people allegedly involved in a cash-intransit heist in Dobsonville.

“The raid was conducted by the [Johannesburg Metro Police Department’s] K9 Narcotics Unit and the SA Police Service. Four hijacked vehicles were recovered, two of which were used in the robbery,” Mashaba said.

“News of this arrest comes as a shock, given the recent spate of cash-in-transit heists in Gauteng, that pose a threat to the lives of motorists and pedestrians.”

Mashaba said millions of rands had been stolen and only a small amount of that recovered.

“The arrest of this individual does bring into question whether the ANC had been aware of it and, if so, why they remained silent about such an important matter.

“It also begs the question of how the ANC, while running government, can employ individuals who so brazenly undermine public safety and the rule of law.”

News of the arrest came as a shock to many, anticrime activist Yusuf Abramjee said yesterday.

“I think the mayor needs to be complimented for making this fact public.

“Also, I see the ANC has issued Present with a summary dismissal, which also needs to be welcomed,”he said.

“That we have seen police officials, even soldiers, arrested before shows how widespread cashin-transit robberies are.

“I know people are saying the ANC was probably protecting the guy, but I think that’s unfair.

“In the absence of any facts that should be condemned; you can’t blame the party if an individual in it was responsible for doing something to possibly make money.” –