ANC yet to table graft claims
Makhubo tweets that he has been cleared but integrity committee still has to sit over report
A report looking into allegations that Geoff Makhubo, chair of the ANC’s powerful Johannesburg region and its mayoral candidate, pocketed R30m from SA’s richest metro has yet to be tabled before party structures.
A report looking into allegations that Geoff Makhubo, chair of the ANC’s powerful Johannesburg region and its mayoral candidate, pocketed R30m from SA’s richest metro has yet to be tabled before party structures.
Makhubo said he has been cleared of any wrongdoing by the ANC’s provincial integrity committee. When the allegations resurfaced last week he took to Twitter, saying he had shown the ANC’s provincial integrity committee that “the allegations are rubbish”. He wrote that he was available to appear before any competent body to “state the case and provide proof”.
On November 26, Makhubo tweeted: “When my name was raised in the media with this allegation I approached the ANC integrity commission to probe the matter. The commission has concluded its work and I have been cleared. The PEC [provincial executive committee] will release the report. The mayoral candidate decision and reasons will be shared.”
However, PEC spokesperson Bones Modise confirmed the report still has to be discussed. “What this means ... what comrade Geoff Makhubo has done is out of order. It was wrong of him to articulate this issue [on Twitter] when it has not been properly processed by the party.”
The ANC announced Makhubo as its mayoral candidate at the 11th hour on Thursday, throwing a spanner in the works. The process was considered to be a two-horse race between EFF regional chair and caucus leader Musa Novela and DA regional leader and finance member of the mayoral committee (MMC) Funzela Ngobeni. The election is expected on Thursday. If Makhubo stays in the race he does so under a cloud of suspicion, a situation that could provide ammunition to his rivals.
If he is elected he will be in pole position to control the City of Johannesburg’s R64.5bn budget for 2019/2020.
Investigative unit AmaBhungane reported in December 2018 that Makhubo, himself a former finance MMC, scored an estimated R30m from the municipality by acting as an influence broker.
It reported that in 2006, Regiments
Fund Managers, a division of Regiments Capital, received a contract to manage the city’s “sinking fund”. This was described as a pool of several billion rand put aside to meet future debt repayments. By 2015, Regiments had taken an estimated R300m in fees.
ANC Greater Johannesburg region spokesperson Jolidee Matongo said the allegations against Makhubo have not been tested, nor has he been found guilty in a court of law.
“When the story broke in December 2018 Makhubo wrote to the public protector to investigate the matter. Secondly, he has submitted himself to the integrity committee in the province to do an investigation,” Matongo said.
“The report is apparently concluded but it has not yet been tabled with its recommendations and findings for the PEC to make its final decision.”
ANC provincial integrity committee chair Trevor Fowler said he had recused himself from the matter because he had worked with Makhubo for many years. “I was the city manager and he was finance MMC. I said to the committee it would not be correct to participate in this [process],” said Fowler.
His deputy, Fazel Randera, had handled the matter, he said.
“The report was completed a short time ago and it has not yet been tabled before the PEC.”
Randera told Business Day on Monday: “We are going to meet with the PEC to provide them with the report.
“Makhubo asked for an audience with the integrity committee. That report is completed and it will be discussed with the PEC.”
On Monday night Makhubo said: “The PP (public protector) wrote back to say it was not her jurisdiction and the integrity committee report will be processed and released by the PEC.”