ANC chairman laughs off Hawks’ fraud investigation
THE Hawks in Eastern Cape are investigating a case of fraud against ANC OR Tambo regional chairman and Mhlontlo municipality speaker Xolile Nkompela.
He is accused of submitting a fraudulent certificate to the education department when he applied for a teaching job.
Nkompela started teaching at Tyeni Junior Secondary School in Tsolo in 2001 before he tendered his resignation in 2010.
The Hawks provincial spokeswoman Lieutenant Anelisa Feni would only confirm that they were probing the politician.
“The Hawks are investigating a case of fraud. No further information will be released at this stage,” she said.
But Nkompela laughed off the allegations yesterday, saying they were unfounded.
He claimed the allegations are part of a political ploy to shift the focus away from the murder case of his bodyguard, Zukile Nyhontso, and also to tarnish his name.
Nkompela said he had heard and seen the allegations against him from other people and on social media networking sites.
The Hawks were yet to approach him, he said.
“I am just thinking who might be playing with them in the political space. I know who is behind the allegations but I am waiting for the Hawks to come to me.
“They [Hawks] should come to me for the documents. The allegations are unfounded and will never [proven] no matter what. ”
Nkompela said he had decided not to pay any attention to the rumours.
“I am not shaken because there is nothing to be scared of. This is just a political ploy to tarnish my name and de-focus people from the murder case where my bodyguard was killed last year,” said Nkompela.
His predecessor, Thandekile Sabisa, and former OR Tambo ANC regional deputy secretary, Lawrence Mambila, were arrested earlier this year in connection with Nyhontso’s murder.
Political analyst Dr Somadoda Fikeni said while it was common during election time for damaging allegations to surface, politicians should present facts that prove their innocence.
“I do think that politics has come to mean everything nowadays but the issue of blanket use of political plotting and not addressing issues is equally unhelpful,” Fikeni said.
“Political plotting has become a chorus of politicians, but if they present the facts, that will lead to their opponents thinking twice before making any allegations which are an inconvenience and hurtful.”