Travelgate crook makes ANC list

2006-01-26 08:49

Sibonelo Msomi

Durban - Just seven months after ANC MP Ruth Ntshulana-Bhengu made a disgraceful exit from parliament when she resigned following her conviction in the Travelgate scandal, she is on track back into public office.

Ntshulana-Bhengu made a surprise comeback on Wednesday when she emerged first on the ANC's proportional representation (PR) list for Ugu District Municipality, published in the party's website.

She was sure on Wednesday that her comeback was no mistake. She said the ANC put her name on the list after a series of internal nomination list processes. The move was criticised by opposition parties.

IFP campaign manager Mntomuhle Khawula said: ³This is an insult to the people of Ugu. The person in question was dismissed from Parliament because of her own admission that she had committed the crime.

"We thought it was in line with President Thabo Mbeki's stance against corruption that she was dismissed. But the party today is dumping her on Ugu. This is taxpayers' money we're talking about here. "The IFP ran a clean government in the district until September 2004. As a party with that record, we are disappointed that the sphere of government that won a prize for clean administration from the South African Local Government Association and a Vuna Award as a Best Municipality is today going to have a person of this calibre," said Khawula.

'How can the ANC do that?'

Leader of the DA in the province Roger Burrows reacted with disbelief.

"How can the ANC do that? This is one of those circumstances when the DA says Mbeki must stop corruption and the ANC doesn't know how to do it. We have just been vindicated this time. Everybody who was involved in the 'Travelgate' scandal or any other corruption should not be put on the list. This is totally unacceptable."

He called on the ANC to stop protecting corrupt people.

The ACDP's Jo-Anne Downs was equally opposed to the move. "The ANC is sending a message that corruption is okay. It is really unacceptable. People who have committed corruption should not be allowed to be in public office."

The ANC's KZN spokesperson Senzo Mchunu was terse. "We have no complaint about Comrade Ntshulana-Bhengu. The party has not broken any law to put her on the list. Anyone who is concerned about this should talk to us. "All we can say is that all those who believe they have not sinned, we shall allow them to throw stones at Ntshulana-Bhengu," said Mchunu.

Ntshulana-Bhengu said she is puzzled about why was singled out.

'Critics should look at the bigger picture'

"I have pleaded guilty to the crime. I was fined (R43 000). I have served my punishment. I have been without a salary for (about six) months. What more should I have done?" she asked.

She said critics should look at the bigger picture. "I have worked hard for the community. We should not lose sight of my rights as an individual that are provided for in the Constitution - that I was convicted and fined," she said.

The Constitution only bars people from public office if sentenced to more than a year without an option of a fine.

Coming to local government from Parliament, where she chaired the sports and recreation and provincial and local government portfolio committees, doesn't make her any different from fellow nominees, she said, although she "may add value".

Ntshulana-Bhengu resigned along with MPs Pamela Mnandi, Mildred Mpaka, Mavis Magazi and Rhoda Joemat. The self-confessed fraudsters resigned just before they could be fired, as the ANC had decided, but Ntshulana-Bhengu complained they were led to believe that if they admitted guilt in a plea bargain they would not lose their seats.

- The Witness