ANC: Corruption report a lie

2008-08-26 18:01

Cape Town - The ANC has dismissed as "false" a report that an internal audit recommended the party's Western Cape executive be dissolved because of corruption and fraud.

"The African National Congress rejects as false an article that appeared on the front page of the Cape Times newspaper today (August 26) on an organisational audit of the ANC in the Western Cape," ANC national spokesperson Jessie Duarte said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Claims that an ANC national audit team has recommended the dissolution of the ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) are untrue."

The audit team had not found "any fraud or corruption that could be attributed to the PEC or the provincial secretariat, as claimed by the Cape Times", she said.

The ANC had noted a "sustained campaign" conducted in the media to undermine the party in the Western Cape.

"Newspapers that have allowed themselves to be used in this campaign not only damage their credibility, but also do a disservice to their readers and the people of the Western Cape," Duarte said.

Contacted for comment, Cape Times editor Tyrone August told Sapa his newspaper was provided with the information by a "usually reliable source", therefore the report had been published in good faith.

However, in view of the ANC's now saying it was incorrect, "we will obviously be investigating", he said.

- SAPA